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Unique gifts of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Unique gifts of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
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October 07, 2022
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The special characteristics of the Prophet ﷺ

Allah Almighty gave the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ special characteristics which He did not give to any other prophets.

Among these qualities was the fact that the Prophet ﷺ was given 5 things no prophet before him was given. Jabir bin `Abdullah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:

جَابِرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ أُعْطِيتُ خَمْسًا لَمْ يُعْطَهُنَّ أَحَدٌ قَبْلِي نُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ مَسِيرَةَ شَهْرٍ، وَجُعِلَتْ لِيَ الأَرْضُ مَسْجِدًا وَطَهُورًا، فَأَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَدْرَكَتْهُ الصَّلاَةُ فَلْيُصَلِّ، وَأُحِلَّتْ لِيَ الْمَغَانِمُ وَلَمْ تَحِلَّ لأَحَدٍ قَبْلِي، وَأُعْطِيتُ الشَّفَاعَةَ، وَكَانَ النَّبِيُّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَى قَوْمِهِ خَاصَّةً، وَبُعِثْتُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَامَّةً ‏”‏‏.‏البخاري.

“I have been given five things which were not given to anyone else before me.

1. Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month’s journey.

2. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due.

3. The booty has been made halal (lawful) for me, yet it was not lawful for anyone else before me.

4. I have been given the right of intercession (on the Day of Resurrection).

5. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only, but I have been sent to all mankind. (Bukhari)

The Prophet ﷺ was given the best Book

One of the greatest gifts given to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, above all other prophets, was that he honoured by having the revelation of the noble Quran. He was chosen to receive the best and everlasting revelation til the end of time. Allah Almighty stated:

ۚ وَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمْ تَكُن تَعْلَمُ وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا

Allah has revealed to you the book and the wisdom, and has taught you what you did not know. Allah’s grace towards you has always been great. (4:113)

The Fatihah

Indeed the final revelation of Allah is so great that its first 7 verses eclipse the previous revelations. Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسلم قَالَ لِأُبَيِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ: «كَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ؟» فَقَرَأَ أُمَّ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا أنزلت فِي التَّوْرَاة وَلَا فِي الْإِنْجِيل وَلَا فِي الزبُور وَلَا فِي الْفرْقَان مِثْلُهَا وَإِنَّهَا سَبْعٌ مِنَ الْمَثَانِي

وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ الَّذِي أُعْطِيتُهُ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وقال: هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ

When God’s Messenger once asked Ubayy bin Ka’b how he recited in the course of the prayer and he recited Umm al- Quran (Surat al Fatihah), he said, “By Him in whose hand my soul is, nothing like it has been sent down in the Torah, the Injil, the Zabur, or the Quran, and it is seven of the oft-repeated verses and the mighty Quran (15:87) which I have been given.”  (Tirmidhi)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ أُمُّ الْقُرْآنِ هِيَ السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ ‏”‏‏.‏البخاري.

Allah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “The Umm the mother (substance) of the Quran is the seven oft-repeated verses (Al- Mathani) and is the Great Qur’an (i.e. Surat-al-Fatihah). (Bukhari)

ما أنزل الله تبارك وتعالى في التوراة ولا في الإنجيل مثل أم القرآن وهي السبع المثاني

We have given you seven repeated verses, and the Glorious Quran. (15:87)

All messengers have been commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Among the unique characteristics, was that the Prophet ﷺ was made the Master (Sayyid) of all prophets and Messengers. Indeed, Allah Almighty took a covenant from all messengers from Adam onwards, that if he were to come during their time, they would have to support him and believe him, as He said:

وَإِذْ أَخَذَ اللَّهُ مِيثَاقَ النَّبِيِّينَ لَمَا آتَيْتُكُم مِّن كِتَابٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ ثُمَّ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مُّصَدِّقٌ لِّمَا مَعَكُمْ لَتُؤْمِنُنَّ بِهِ وَلَتَنصُرُنَّهُ ۚ قَالَ أَأَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَخَذْتُمْ عَلَىٰ ذَٰلِكُمْ إِصْرِي ۖ قَالُوا أَقْرَرْنَا ۚ قَالَ فَاشْهَدُوا وَأَنَا مَعَكُم مِّنَ الشَّاهِدِينَ

Allah took the covenant of the prophets, “If I give you a book and wisdom; should a messenger come to you verifying what you have, you shall believe in him, and support him.” He said, “Do you affirm My covenant and take it upon yourselves?” They said, “We affirm it.” He said, “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.” (3:81)

The one who will lead the intercession on the Day of Judgement

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will be the one who leads everyone on the Day of Judgement and begin the intercession.

Abu Hurayrah reported Allah’s Messenger ﷺ as saying:

أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ أَنَا سَيِّدُ وَلَدِ آدَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَأَوَّلُ مَنْ يَنْشَقُّ عَنْهُ الْقَبْرُ وَأَوَّلُ شَافِعٍ وَأَوَّلُ مُشَفَّعٍ ‏”‏ ‏.‏مسلم.

I shall be pre-eminent amongst the descendants of Adam on the Day of Resurrection and I will be the first intercessor and the first whose intercession will be accepted (by Allah). (Muslim)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  was granted the best Ummah

The Ummah of Muhammad was the best Ummah and though we have lost our way and are no longer the best Ummah, we have the ingredients to become the best Ummah again, and to make him proud of us.

كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ ۗ وَلَوْ آمَنَ أَهْلُ الْكِتَابِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُم ۚ مِّنْهُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَأَكْثَرُهُمُ الْفَاسِقُونَ

You are the best community that ever emerged for humanity: you advocate what is moral, and forbid what is immoral, and believe in God. Had the People of the Scripture believed, it would have been better for them. Among them are the believers, but most of them are sinners. (3:110)

The characteristic of the best ummah is that ‘they command what is good and forbid what is evil’ and they believe in Allah. If we do this we will regain our status again inshallah.

The followers of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ- will be half of the residents of Paradise

The Prophet ﷺ said we would be half the residents of Jannah. We need to earn our entry to Jannah.

`Abdullah bin Mas’ud narrated:

وعن عبد الله بن مسعود رضي الله عنه قَالَ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي قُبَّةٍ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَتَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا رُبُعَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ تَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا ثُلُثَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ أَتَرْضَوْنَ أَنْ تَكُونُوا شَطْرَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ ‏”‏‏.‏ قُلْنَا نَعَمْ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسُ مُحَمَّدٍ بِيَدِهِ إِنِّي لأَرْجُو أَنْ تَكُونُوا نِصْفَ أَهْلِ الْجَنَّةِ، وَذَلِكَ أَنَّ الْجَنَّةَ لاَ يَدْخُلُهَا إِلاَّ نَفْسٌ مُسْلِمَةٌ. البخاري.

While we were in the company of the Prophet ﷺ in a tent he said, ”Would it please you to be one fourth of the people of Paradise?” We said, “Yes.” He said, “Would It please you to be one-third of the people of Paradise?” We said, “Yes.” He said, “Would it please you to be half of the people of Paradise?” We said, “Yes.” Thereupon he said, “I hope that you will be one half of the people of Paradise, for none will enter Paradise but a Muslim soul, (Bukhari)

To read more about the unique and special characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ you will find a lovely selection in the short and easy read, Bidayat al-Sul fi Tafdhil al-Rasul, ‘The Beginning of The Quest of the High Esteem of the Messenger’ the beautiful little booklet by Abu Muḥammad ʿIzz al-Dīn ʿAbd al-ʿAziz bin ʿAbd al-Salam (577 AH – 660 AH / 1262 CE). You can read it with your family and you feel the barakah descend on you. Also Imam Suyuti mentioned his unique qualities in his work, Al Khasais al Kubra (الخصائص الكبرى) and Ibn Al-Mulaqqin’s Ghayat as-Sul fi Khasais ar-Rasoul and many others.

We ask Allah to make it easy for us to learn more about the Prophet ﷺ not just in Rabbi al Awwal but throughout the year to carry out his message on a daily basis and emulate his character and be among those who are close to him in our actions and intentions in this world and the Hereafter. Ameen.

Shaykh Haytham Tamim Khutbah 7th October 2022

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Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.

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