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The 1st Khutbah (sermon):
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. O Allah our Lord, lead us out from the depths of darkness and illusion, unto the lights of erudition and knowledge, and from the muddy shallows of lusts unto the heavens of Your Vicinity
I bear witness that there is no Deity worthy of worship but Allah Alone, Who has no partner. It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth (Islam), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikun (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) hate (it).
I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger; the bestowed mercy and the blessed grace. We bear witness that he accomplished the entrusted mission, conveyed the Divine Message, advised the Ummah, relieved the hardship, fought in the Cause of Allah, and guided people to the Right Path. O Allah, have Your Peace and Blessings on our Master Muhammad, his noble family, and good Companions, the trustees of his Da'wah and the leasers of his banners and be pleased with them and us, O Lord of the Worlds.
Dear Allah's servants, I urge you, me included, to fear and obey Allah, and I would like now to start with that which is good.
Duties we should fulfill towards our Noble Prophet:
Dear believing brothers in the Arab and Muslim Worlds, few days ago we celebrated the Prophet's birth anniversary PBUH. Thus, I would like to talk about it presenting to our noble brothers the following facts:
Fact:
1- Knowing the Prophetic Sunnah is Fard on every Muslim:
The 1st fact: Knowing the Prophet's Sunnah Qawliyyah (verbal) and Fi'liyyah (practical) is enjoined on each and every Muslim, because each Quranic Command is a religious obligation. Furthermore, Allah, may His Glory be glorified, ordered us to take from His Messenger PBUH our religion, follow his Prophetic Sunnah and take him for a model and exemplar. Regarding this point, Allah the Almighty says:
(Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad PBUH) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.)
But how can we follow the Prophet's orders and avoid his prohibitions? How can we follow his step and take him for a good exemplar if we do not know his sound Ahadeeth and authenticated Sirah (biography)? The main point is that the things which are necessary to carry out a certain obligation are themselves obligatory.
2- We are ordered to follow the Noble Prophet:
The 2nd fact: Allah the Almighty ordered us to follow and obey His Messenger PBUH, because he himself is infallible in his words, deeds, approvals and conditions, while his people, who follow him, are infallible as a whole nation. This fact is indicated in the Prophet's Hadith:
(My nation will not unite on misguidance, so if you see them differing, follow the great majority.)
Bear in mind that Allah the Almighty describes His Messenger PBUH in the Noble Quran by saying:
(Nor does he speak of (his own) desire* It is only an Inspiration that is inspired.)
For this reason scholars of the fundamentals of religion consider the Noble Quran a textual Divine Revelation and the Prophet's Ahadeeth a non-textual Divine Revelation. They even consider the Prophet's Ahadeeth the second basic source of Shari'ah after the Noble Quran.
3- Obeying the Noble Prophet means obeying Allah:
The 3rd fact: Answering the Messenger of Allah PBUH, is but answering Allah the Almighty, obeying the Messenger of Allah PBUH is but obeying Allah the Almighty, and seeking to please the Messenger of Allah PBUH is but seeking to please Allah the Almighty. Regarding this fact, Allah Almighty says:
(But if they answer you not (i.e. do not believe in your doctrine of Islamic Monotheism, nor follow you), then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray than one who follows his own lusts, without guidance from Allah? Verily! Allah guides not the people who are Zalimun (wrong-doers, disobedient to Allah, and polytheists).)
In another Surah, He says:
(He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammad PBUH), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammad PBUH) as a watcher over them.)
He the Almighty also says:
(They swear by Allah to you (Muslims) in order to please you, but it is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad PBUH), if they are believers.)
Allah the Almighty uses the third person singular pronoun in the Ayah. Fact:
4- Following Allah's Messenger proves love to Allah the Almighty:
The 4th fact: Allah, may His Glory be glorified, never accepts those who claim to love Him unless they provide it. Every one can claim that he loves Allah, but the honest one will prove it. In fact, Allah, may His Glory be glorified, has made following the good model of His Messenger PBUH the proof of loving Him. He the Almighty says:
(Say (O Muhammad PBUH to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.")
5- His Sirah enlightens the mind and pacifies the heart:
The 5th fact: Allah the Almighty says:
(And all that We relate to you (O Muhammad PBUH) of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby. And in this (chapter of the Qur'an) has come to you the truth, as well as an admonition and a reminder for the believers.)
If the pure noble heart of the Prophet PBUH, the best and most beloved of all mankind to Allah Al-Haqq (the Truth), was strengthened and made more firm and comfortable upon listening to the stories of other fellow Prophets and Messengers PBUT, although they are inferior to him in rank, how would be the case with the believers when they listen to the story of the best and most beloved of all mankind to Allah? Undoubtedly, the Sirah of Allah's Messenger PBUH enlightens the minds, reassures the hearts, provides spiritual enhancement, and refreshes in man the spirit of heroism, simply because he is the most perfect of all human beings.
My eye has never seen anyone more handsome than you,
And women have never given birth to anyone more perfect than you.
You were created pure from any imperfection,
It is as though you were created as you desire.
***
6- Knowing Sirah is Fard Ayn on every Muslim:
The 6th fact: From the above-mentioned facts, it can be deduced that knowing the Messenger of Allah PBUH through his true noble Sunnah, both the sound Sunnah Qawliyyah and the authenticated Sunnh Fi'liyyah is Fard Ayn (refers to every legal obligation that must be performed by each individual Muslim). Knowing him is an essential part of Islam in the Muslim's whole life, not only in the month when the Prophet PBUH was born. In this context, Allah the Almighty says:
(Or is it that they did not recognize their Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) so they deny him?)
***
The Noble Prophet's mercy:
Dear noble brothers, so far, I have introduced you to the main topic of our Khutbah today. In all human history, with its elite leaders and great men, no other life than that of the Messenger and Mercy of Allah to all mankind, Muhammad PBUH, has ever been so accurately and elaborately reported. Every single word he PBUH uttered, every step he walked, every smile that brightened on his noble face, every tear-drop that fell down his noble cheeks, every breath that he took, every effort that he exerted to call people to Allah, every scene of his noble life, and even his private life with his family and wives has been reported to us with utmost and peerless accuracy and authenticity.
The Messenger of Allah PBUH passed away more than fourteen centuries ago, but we still read his Noble Sirah with its vivid and impressive events as if he PBUH were still living with us. It is not surprising at all that we still live with him all the scenes of his noble life, most clearly and vividly, since Allah the Almighty chose him as His last Messenger and his religion as the final Divine Religion for all mankind everywhere and at all times until Allah the Almighty inherits the world and all that is therein.
Dear noble brothers, beyond a shadow of doubt, the noble and perfect life of the Prophet PBUH together with the sublime and pure traits and qualities of his noble character, cannot be covered in books or spoken of in sermons for many years.
Mercy was the core of his life; justice was his law, compassion was the essence of his pure nature, sublimity was the ultimate goal of his work, and solving people's problems was his utmost care.
Let us now talk about the first and foremost trait of his noble character, namely his mercy.
***
Marcy in the Noble Prophet's view is better than excessive worship. He PBUH said about himself:
(I am but a gift of mercy.)
Well, it is the mercy of the generous and strong and not of the miserable and weak. He PBUH the one who knows the real meaning of mercy said:
(The Compassionate One has mercy on those who are merciful.)
Also, he said that Allah the almighty said in a Hadith Qudsi:
(If you want Me to bestow My Mercy upon you, then be merciful to My creatures.)
The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH) announced clearly that he considered mercy better and purer than exaggerated worship.
(Jabir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that Allah's Messenger PBUH went out to Makkah in Ramadan in the year of Victory, and he and the people fasted till he came to Kura' al-Ghamim. He then called for a cup of water which he raised till the people saw it, and then he drank. He was told afterwards that some people had continued to fast, and he said: "These people are the disobedient ones; these are the disobedient ones.")
Since hardship of travel is an accepted excuse for breaking Siyaam (fasting), and since tenderness and mercy override everything in the heart of the Prophet PBUH, he described those who remained fasting and got exhausted as being disobedient, simply because they refused to accept the Exemption of Allah, the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. By refusing to break their Siyaam, they turned the act of worship into a physical kind of torture, i.e. they abandoned the greatest human merit, namely mercy, particularly towards one's ownself, health, and strength, which are one's real capital.
Dear noble brothers, based on the above-mentioned incident the value of Prophet's mercy towards people outweighed the one of the act of worship.
Ahadeeth refer to the Prophet's mercy towards one's ownself, parents, and wife:
A man hurried happily to the Messenger of Allah PBUH to emigrate and fight with him for the Cause of Allah as mentioned in the following Hadith:
(Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As (may Allah be pleased with them) reported: A man came to the Prophet PBUH of Allah and said, "I swear allegiance to you for emigration and Jihad, seeking reward from Allah." He PBUH said, "Is any of your parents alive?" He said, "Yes, both of them are alive." He PBUH then asked, "Do you want to seek reward from Allah?" He replied in the affirmative. Thereupon Messenger of Allah PBUH said, "Go back to your parents and keep good company with them".)
In another narration, a man came to Messenger of Allah PBUH and sought his permission to participate in Jihad with him. The Prophet PBUH asked him:
("Are your parents alive?" He replied, "Yes, O Messenger of Allah." The Prophet PBUH then said, "You can meet with Allah if you serve them and be dutiful to them. By your dutifulness will be like the one who performs Hajj, Umrah and Jihad.")
A happy smile on the face of a tender father or a compassionate mother is unmatched in the sight of Muhammad PBUH by anything else no matter how valuable it might be, and even if it were Jihad or Da'wah and spreading Islam.
As I have mentioned to you, when the act of worship is performed causing pain, it turns into self-torture, and when it is performed at the expense of being merciful and dutiful to one's parents, it turns into disobedience.
These incidents show the Prophet's mercy towards one's own self and parents, and let us see how one's mercy should be towards his family and wife.
In fact the Prophet's mercy pertaining towards his household is really astonishing, for he PBUH associated one's being a good person with how merciful he is to his family and being kind to them. Regarding this point, the Prophet PBUH said:
(The best of you is the one who is best to his family, and I am the best of you to my family.)
He PBUH also said:
(Take my advice with regard to women: Act kindly towards women)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah PBUH said:
(O Allah, I declare inviolable the rights of two weak ones: the orphans and women.)
The Prophet PBUH said in another Hadith:
(Treat women in an honorable manner. By Allah, none but a noble man treats women in an honorable manner, and none but an ignorant man treats women disgracefully. They defeat the noble man, but they are defeated by the ignorant one, and I would rather be a defeated noble man than a defeating ignorant one.)
He PBUH also said:
(The best of you is the one who is best to his wife, and I am the best of you to my wives.)
1- His mercy towards husbands and wives:
His mercy towards married people is manifested clearly in the following story:
(Abu Sulayman Malik Ibn al-Huwayrith said, "We came to the Prophet PBUH being young men of a similar age. We spent twenty nights with him. He thought that we desired our own people and he asked us about those of our family we had left behind, and we told him. He was merciful and kind, and said, 'Go back to your family. Instruct and command them. Pray as you have seen me praying. When it is time for the prayer, then let one of you give the Adhan (call for prayer) and let the oldest of you lead the payer.)
His mercy towards wives is clearly manifested in the story of the wife of the noble Companion Uthman bin Math'oun, may Allah be pleased with him. She came to the Prophet's wife, A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, complaining to her against her husband's being negligent to her, because he was fully involved in worship and religious devotion. He spent the nights praying and spent the days fasting. The Messenger of Allah PBUH summoned Uthman bin Math'oun and said to him:
(Your Lord has a right on you, your soul has a right on you, and your family has a right on you; so you should give the rights of all those who has a right on you.)
Uthman took the Prophet's advice and did well to his wife. The next day, Uthman's wife went to the Prophet's house as happy and beautiful as a bride, so the women gathered round, asking in great astonishment, "What is the matter, O wife of bin Math'oun?!" With utmost joy she replied, "We have had what other people have!"
In fact, the Prophet PBUH even promised that the woman who is good to her husband would have a position in Allah's Sight that is as high as the one of whoever performs Jihad. As you know Jihad (fight in the Cause of Allah) is the zenith of Islam. In this context, a woman of Al-Ansar (the Helpers), called Asma' bint Yazeed Al-Ansariah, came to the Messenger of Allah PBUH, saying:
("O Messenger of Allah! I have been delegated to you by the women. Men have been given superiority over us (women) by Friday and congregational prayers, visiting the sick, walking in funerals, performing Hajj and Umrah (major and minor pilgrimage), and warfare." The Messenger of Allah, (PBUH), addressed the woman, "Know O woman, and inform other women that fulfilling these (the wife's missions, duties and responsibilities towards her husband) equals Jihad (fighting) in Allah's Cause.")
2- His mercy towards children:
We have just talked about the Prophet's mercy towards the parents and the wife, and now we move to talk about the Prophet's mercy towards children. Whenever he PBUH met a child, he would smile to him and speak tenderly and compassionately. He PBUH also used to take the children of his venerable Companions in his noble hands, carry them and play with them. Besides, whenever he passed by children, he would salute them gently, saying:
(As-Salamu 'Alaikum (May Allah's Peace be upon you, O Children.)
Jabir bin Sumrah, may Allah be pleased with him narrated that the Prophet PBUH saw some children competing together in running, and he PBUH took part in the competition to please them and give them self-confidence. He would also invite children to ride behind him on his camel to delight them.
(A'isha said, "A Bedouin came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and asked, "Do you kiss your children? We do not kiss them.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Can I put mercy in your hearts after Allah has removed it from them?'")
(Usama bin Zaid narrated: The daughter of the Prophet PBUH sent (a messenger) to the Prophet requesting him to come as her child was dying (or was gasping), but the Prophet returned the messenger and told him to convey his greeting to her and say: "Whatever Allah takes is for Him and whatever He gives, is for Him, and everything with Him has a limited fixed term (in this world) and so she should be patient and hope for Allah's reward." She again sent for him, swearing that he should come. The Prophet got up, and so did Sa'd bin 'Ubada, Mu'adh bin Jabal, Ubai bin Ka'b, Zaid bin Thabit and some other men. The child was brought to Allah's Apostle while his breath was disturbed in his chest (the sub-narrator thinks that Usama added) as if it was a leather water-skin. On that the eyes of the Prophet PBUH started shedding tears. Sa'd said, "O Allah's Apostle! What is this?" He replied, "It is mercy which Allah has lodged in the hearts of His slaves, and Allah is merciful only to those of His slaves who are merciful (to others).)
He PBUH also said:
(I shall be the first human to get hold of the ring of the gate of Paradise, but suddenly a woman competes with me so as to enter Paradise before me. 'Who is this woman, O Jibrael?!' I shall ask in amazement. 'That is a woman whose husband passed away leaving her young children; and she refused to get married again for their sake.')
Such eminent position the woman gained is due to her mercy towards her young children.
Regarding how one should treat children, he PBUH said:
(Play with your child until he attains the age of seven, educate him for seven years, supervise him for seven years, then leave him free to decide for himself.)
3- His mercy towards little children and neighbors:
Dear believing brothers in the Arab and Muslim Worlds, we have mentioned his mercy towards children, and now we move to talk about his mercy towards little kids in general.
(Narrated Al-Ma'rur bin Suwaid: I saw Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari wearing a cloak, and his slave, too, was wearing a cloak. We asked him about that (i.e. how both were wearing similar cloaks). He replied, "Once I abused a man and he complained of me to the Prophet PBUH. The Prophet asked me, 'Did you abuse him by slighting his mother?' He added, 'Your slaves are your brethren upon whom Allah has given you authority. So, if one has one's brethren under one's control, one should feed them with the like of what one eats and clothe them with the like of what one wears. You should not overburden them with what they cannot bear, and if you do so, help them (in their hard job).)
Notice his mercy towards the lads in general and the servants among them in particularly as it is indicated in the following Hadith:
(Abu Mas'ud Al-Badri (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I was beating my slave with a whip when I heard a voice behind me which said: "Abu Mas'ud! Bear in mind..." I did not recognize the voice for the intense anger I was in. Abu Mas'ud added: As he came near me, I found that he was the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who was saying, "Abu Mas'ud! Bear in mind that Allah has more dominance upon you than you have upon your slave." Then I said: "I will never beat any slave in future.")
Pay attention to the following Hadith:
(A man once asked the Messenger of Allah, "O Allah's Messenger, I have an orphan in my care, can I beat him as a kind of discipline?" The Prophet PBUH replied, "Beat him as you would beat your own child.")
The Prophet PBUH even does not consider one a real Muslim unless he has mercy towards the young. He PBUH said:
(He is not amongst my followers who neither shows respect to our elders, nor mercy to our youngsters and does not recognize the rights of our 'Alim (scholar).)
Here is another Hadith:
('Abdullah bin 'Abi Qatada narrated : My father said, "The Prophet (PBUH) said, 'When I stand for prayer, I intend to prolong it but on hearing the cries of a child, I cut it short, as I dislike to trouble the child's mother.' ")
Now, we move to the Messenger's mercy towards neighbors. He PBUH was very careful to spread and maintain peace and security among all neighbors. As you know conflicts do not happen between detached people, but they occur among people who live next to one another due to their daily contact, for instance, and those people are usually the neighbors. Accordingly, the Prophet PBUH recommended that we treat the neighbor well.
(A'ishah reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Jibrael, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, kept on recommending that I treat neighbors well until I thought that he would order me to treat them as my heirs.")
He PBUH emphasized the neighbors' rights, so that a strong neighbor would not transgress the rights of a weak one. That is why he PBUH negated strongly true faith from those whose neighbors feel afraid of them or do not feel safe from their evil deeds.
(Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer! By Allah, he is not a believer." It was asked, "Who is that, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "One whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil".)
(A man said to the Prophet PBUH: "O Messenger of Allah, indeed, this woman is known for her devotion and submission in prayer, fasting and giving Sadaqah, but she always wrongs her neighbor with her tongue." Then, the Prophet PBUH said: "She will be in Hell-fire.")
The Messenger of Allah PBUH confirmed the sanctity of the rights of neighbors in the general sense of the word. What about the case of the rights of a Muslim neighbor, a kin Muslim neighbor, or a next-door kin Muslim neighbor?! In this context, he PBUH said:
(Do you know what are the rights of a neighbor? If he asks you for help, you should help him. If he asks you for support, you should support him. If he asks you for money, you should lend him. If he falls ill, you should visit him. If he is pleased about something good, you should congratulate him. If he is sad about something bad, you should console him. If he passes away, you should see him off to his grave. Do not make your building higher than his and, hence, deprive him of the breeze, except by his own consent and permission. Furthermore, if you buy some fruit, give him some thereof, but if you do not want to (give him some of the fruit you buy), you should bring it (the fruit) in secretly; and do not let you child take it out to tease thereby his child. Moreover, do not cause him harm by the smell of your food, or else give him some thereof)
4- His mercy towards humanity:
The aforementioned point was about his mercy towards neighbors, but what about his mercy towards humanity?! As for the Prophet's mercy towards all mankind, it was not a mere benevolent deed, but rather it was one of the requirements of guidance and an essential part of human life that is manifested in many aspects of righteous deeds and devoted participation.
(Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: I asked the Messenger of Allah PBUH, 'What saves man from the Hell-Fire?' He PBUH answered, 'Belief in Allah.' Then I asked, 'O Allah's Prophet, is there any deed together with belief?' He PBUH replied, 'To give of that which Allah has given to you.' I asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, what if man is poor, and he does not have anything to give?' He PBUH replied, 'He should enjoin Ma'ruf (everything that is good) and forbid Munkar (everything that is evil).' I asked, 'What if he is unable to enjoin Ma'ruf or forbid Munkar?' He PBUH said, 'Then let him help the feeble-minded.' I asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, what if he cannot do that?' He PBUH said, 'Then let him help a wronged person.' I asked, 'What if he is weak and cannot help a wronged person?' He PBUH replied in great amazement, 'Do you not wish to leave any good thing for your fellow?! Let him than abstain from doing evil to other people.' I asked, 'O Messenger of Allah, if he so does, will he enter Jannah (Paradise)?' He PBUH replied, 'Whoever possesses any of such qualities (as I have just mentioned) is led thereby to Jannah.')
5- His mercy towards animals:
There still remains something unexpected, namely the Prophet's mercy towards animals. Do you think that Muhammad PBUH was merciful to mankind only? Of course, he was not. In fact his mercy goes further to embrace animals, which also have feelings and should be given their due rights of life and provision, perhaps more than human beings, because they cannot complain or speak out their pain or sorrow. He PBUH would be hurt whenever he saw an animal being burdened with things that it could not bear. Pay attention to the following Hadith, please:
(Nafi' reported from Abdullah Ibn Umar that Allah's Messenger PBUH said: "A woman was punished, because she had kept a cat tied until it died, and (as a punishment of this offence) she was thrown into the Hell. She had not provided it with food, or drink, and had not freed her so that she could eat the insects of the earth.")
Due to his most delicate feeling of the animals' need of mercy, he would feel as if wronged animals were complaining to him and asking for help against their masters.
(Abdullah bin Ja'far said "The Apostle of Allah (PBUH) seated me behind him (on his ride) one day, and told me secretly a thing asking me not to tell it to anyone. The place for easing dearer to the Apostle of Allah (PBUH) was a mound or host of palm trees by which he could conceal himself. He entered the garden of a man from the Ansar (Helpers). All of a sudden when a camel saw the Prophet (PBUH), it wept tenderly producing yearning sound, and its eyes flowed. The Prophet (PBUH) came to it and wiped the temple of its head. So it kept silence. He then said "Whose Camel is this?" A young man from the Ansar came and said "This is mine, Apostle of Allah (PBUH)." He said "Do you not fear Allah about this beast which Allah has given in your possession. It has complained to me that you keep it hungry and load it heavily which fatigues it.)
O Allah our Lord, teach us what is useful for us, let us make use of what You have taught us and advance us in knowledge. O Allah, show us the righteous things as righteous and help us do them, and show us the bad things as bad and help us keep away from them. O Allah our Lord, make us amongst those who listen to the Word and follow the best meaning of It, and admit us, by Your Grace, to the ranks of Your righteous servants.
Dear brothers, call yourselves to account before you are called to do so, and weigh your deeds before they are weighed against you, and you should know that the Angel of Death has reached others and will reach us soon, so pay heed. The wise man is the one who calls himself to account (and refrains from doing evil deeds) and does noble deeds to benefit him after death; and the foolish person is the one who subdues himself to his temptations and desires and seeks from Allah the fulfillment of his vain desires.
* * *
The 2nd Khutbah (sermon):
Be keen on the Ummah's unity:
Dear believing brothers in the Arab and Muslim Worlds, as for the Prophet's mercy towards his Ummah after him, he PBUH was very keen on the Muslims' unity, and, hence, he enjoined everything that brings unity, solidarity, and power to his Ummah and forbade everything that entails dissension, weakness, and discord therein. In fact, no other doctrine than that of the Messenger of Allah PBUH called for real brotherhood as substantiated by unity, solidarity, cooperation, compassion, and collaboration among all members of society. He PBUH also warned of dissension, discord, enmity, grudge, hatred and blind fanaticism. This can be clearly seen in the Prophet's Sunnah both al-Qawliyyah and al-Fi'liyyah.
In the era of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, Shaas Ibn Qays, one of the leaders of the Jews, passed by a group of al-Aws and al-Khazraj while they were sitting together in a brotherly and friendly environment. He was enraged by the affectionate scene and hatred ate up his heart. Therefore, he ordered a young Jewish man to join their session and remind them of the Day of Bu'aath – the day on which al-Aws gained victory over al-Khazraj five years before the Prophet's migration to al-Madinah – and to recite to them some of their poetry that highly praised that occasion. The young man did that and the fire of turmoil was ignited between the two parties and a bloody war was about to start between them.
The news was conveyed to the Prophet PBHU, who went to them with a group of al-Muhajirin, and the trouble was prevented. He PBUH said to them, "Are you following the traditions of Jahiliyyah (Pre-Islamic period of ignorance) whilst I am among you? Is it that you want to become disbelievers again after Allah has honored you with Islam, cut you off the (evils of) Jahiliyyah, and united your hearts, would you then wish to return to your original state as non-Muslims (disbelievers)?"
Thereupon they regained their senses and realized that it was one of the hostile plots of their enemy. They put down their weapons, wept, and embraced one another then moved away with the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, and so the plot of their enemy Shaas Ibn Qays was in vain.
The Messenger of Allah PBUH described such trouble between believers as Kufr (disbelief), and Allah, may His Glory be glorified, sent down on that occasion the following Ayaat:
(And how would you disbelieve, while unto you are recited the Verses of Allah, and among you is His Messenger (Muhammad PBUH)? And whoever holds firmly to Allah, (i.e. follows Islam Allah's Religion, and obeys all that Allah has ordered, practically), then he is indeed guided to a Right Path* O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah* And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur'an), and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith), and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided* Let there arise out of you a group of people inviting to all that is good (Islam), enjoining Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do) and forbidding Al-Munkar (polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden). And it is they who are the successful* And be not as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment* On the Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) when some faces will become white and some faces will become black; as for those whose faces will become black (to them will be said): "Did you reject Faith after accepting it? Then taste the torment (in Hell) for rejecting Faith."* And for those whose faces will become white, they will be in Allah's Mercy (Paradise), therein they shall dwell forever* These are the Verses of Allah: We recite them to you (O Muhammad PBUH) in truth, and Allah wills no injustice to the 'Alamin (mankind and jinns)* And to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And all matters go back (for decision) to Allah* You [true believers in Islamic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad PBUH and his Sunnah (legal ways, etc.)] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden), and you believe in Allah. And had the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) believed, it would have been better for them; among them are some who have faith, but most of them are Al-Fasiqun (disobedient to Allah - and rebellious against Allah's Command).
The Prophet's keenness on his Ummah after him:
Allah the Almighty says:
(Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad PBUH) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad PBUH) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allah, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he PBUH is) full of pity, kind, and merciful* But if they turn away, say (O Muhammad PBUH): "Allah is sufficient for me. La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), in Him I put my trust and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.")
Allah's Messenger PBUH was very keen on keeping his Ummah united after him. Pay attention to the following Hadith, please:
(Jarir bin 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) asked me on the occasion of the Farewell Pilgrimage to tell the people to keep silent, then he (PBUH) said, "Do not revert to disbelief after me, chopping the heads of one another.")
As we are celebrating the Prophet's birth anniversary, we should mention that he PBUH was keep on our unity and prominent position after him. The era we live in makes us in dire need to be united, stay together, heal the wound, and avoid division. Moreover, we will never be able to get our territories back unless we corroborate with one another, collaborate with one another, support one another, back one another, and remain together. This is what our country is working on with other countries. As for the peace treaty, we are invited to sign, we wish to sign it, provided the peace is complete and comprehensive and the occupied territories should be liberated and given to their owners. Also, this treaty should preserve dignity to peoples and nations. However, achieving this depends on understanding and acting upon the following Ayah:
(O you who believe! If you help (in the cause of) Allah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.)
