Glad tidings for those pay their respects at the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

Glad tidings for those pay their respects at the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

 

Presenting oneself in the court of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and paying one’s respects to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the yearning of every believer and the aim and object of every lover of the Prophet.  It is the surest means of forgiveness for sinners and the certain means of gaining Allah’s Mercy.  Allah Most High says in Surah Nisa:

 

And, (O Beloved,) if they, having wronged their souls, had come to you imploring the forgiveness of Allah, and the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him) had also asked forgiveness for them, then (owing to this mediation and intercession) they would certainly have found Allah Most Relenting, Ever-Merciful.  Surah Nisa (4:64)

 

All the experts of Hadith and the experts of exegesis of the Holy Quran are in agreement that the commandment of the aforementioned verse is not limited to the earthly life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  This commandment remains even after the passing away of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

‘Allama Ibn Katheer writes in the exegesis of the aforementioned verse that Allah Most High is guiding the sinners that when they end up committing a sin, they should present themselves at the court of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and seek Allah’s forgiveness and they should request the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to intercede on their behalf before Almighty Allah.  When they will do this, Allah Most High will accept their repentance and will bestow His special Mercy on them and wipe out all their sins.  For this reason, Allah Most High says:  ….

 

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 respecting the blessed sanctuary (Raudha) of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is incumbent upon every Muslim.  We have a relationship of faith and devotion with it.  After the demise of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the Companions would not only present themselves with great devotion but would also respect and revere it.

 

There is a Hadith in Musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hambal that Marwan saw a man who was resting his face on the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He asked him:  What are you doing?  When Marwan went closer, he saw that it was Hadhrat Abu Ayyub Ansari (May Allah be well pleased with him), a Companion of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He replied to Marwan:  I know what I am doing….(Musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hambal, Hadith No. 24302)

 

The revered Mufti quoted Hafidh Ibn Katheer that a Bedouin came to the grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and presented his greetings.  Then he supplicated for his forgiveness in a very tearful manner.  He recited some couplets as well.  They meant:

 

O best of all universe!  Whom the earth kissed.  With the fragrance of your presence, the plains and the dunes were purified and rendered fragrant.  My life be sacrificed for the blessed grave in which you rest – which has purity, generosity and benevolence.

 

Hadhrat ‘Utbi (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) who was present there at that time says that suddenly I was overwhelmed by sleep.  I was blessed with the vision of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  O ‘Utbi!  Meet that Bedouin and give him glad tidings that indeed Allah Most High has pardoned him.

 

Apart from Hafidh Ibn Katheer, great scholars and Hadith-experts of the Ummah have related this and even today the couplets which that Bedouin recited are engraved on the pillars.  Those couplets show not only the supplication of the Bedouin but also show the deep relationship of the Muslim with the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) must be respected and revered and everything connected with Him must be revered.  The revered Mufti said that one who presents himself (or herself) at the blessed grave of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is never left deprived.  Bestowals and mercies rain upon that person.