Eid-el-Maulud is an annual Islamic festival, celebrated to mark the birthday of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (PBUH). The festival could be traced back to the early days of Islam, when some of the Muslims that came after the companions of the prophet (PBUH) held sessions to compose poems and praise the prophet in a gathering.
The festival was officially celebrated under the Ottoman Ruler Muzaffar al-Din Gökböri (d. 630/1233). The festival is celebrated in order to inculcate the love of the prophet in hearts of the Muslims, as stated by him in one of his Ahādith, where he said: “Train your children in three things: the love of your Prophet, the love of his progeny, i.e. Ahlul Bayt, and recitation of the Qur’an.”(Al-Jami’-ul-Saghir).
Although, there are some certain Muslims that have the understanding of the festival to be an innovation that has no room in Islamic Religion, therefore the celebration should not be held! But the intention of this article is not to discuss the permissibility of the event or to discredit it, rather to discuss the sublime qualities of the person whom the celebration is done on his celebration. The writer of the book “Ash-Shama’il Rasul” dedicated a page citing narrations describing the the noble features of the Holy Prophet. He began by citing a narration from Anas Ibn Malik, where he was Quoted describing the prophet as:
“Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was neither tall nor was he short (like a dwarf… He was of medium stature). In complexion, he was neither very white like lime, nor very dark, nor brown which results in darkness (he was illuminant, more luminous than even the full-moon on the 14th night). The hair of Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was neither very straight nor very curly (but slightly wavy). When he attained the age of forty, Allah Almighty granted him nubuwwah (prophethood). He lived for 10 years in Makkah (commentary) and in Madina for 10 years.
At that time there were not more than 20 gray hair on his mubarak (blessed) head and beard.” He continued by citing another Hadith from Baraa bin Aazib (Radiallahu anhu) relates that:”Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was a man of a medium build, (slightly tall, as explained before); he had broad shoulders (from which we may gather that he had a wide chest); he had dense hair which reached his ear-lobes; he wore a red striped lungi (a cloth worn around the legs) and shawl.
I never saw anyone or anything more handsome than him”. He (Bara’a) continued with expressing his personal opinion regarding the prophet by saying: “I never seen someone with long hair and red clothing more handsome than Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam). His hair reached his shoulders. The portion between his two shoulders was wide. He was neither very tall nor very short”
It is also reported from Ali (A.S) said: “Rasullullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) was neither very tall nor very short. The soles of both feet were very fleshed. (This quality is praiseworthy in a man as it denotes strength and courage but is not praiseworthy for a woman). He had a large head. The joints of the bones was also large. There was a thin line of hair from the chest to the navel. When Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) walked, it appeared that he was descending from a high place. I did not see anyone like him neither before him, nor after him”.
RasululLaH is a such a man that no complete word that can be used to describe him, but to be addressed as a perfect definition of beauty! Muhammad (PBUH) was born in the city of Mecca in the year 579CE into a Noble family whose father’s and ancestors were amongst the Chiefs of the Quraish tribe, and the Bani-Hashim.the name of his father was Abdullahi, and his mother Aminat.
According to acceptable sources in the school of Ahlulbyt, he was born in 17th Rabi’u Awwal, while to the Sunnis, he was born on 12th. Whatever the actual date was, it is not a debatable issue that need to argue on, since that both the schools accept the month of his birth as a month of celebration! his lineage is traced back to Prophet Ishmael son of Prophet Ibrahim (A.S).
He lost his father while he was in his mother’s womb and lost his mother while he was seven years. He grew in the hands of grandfather, after the demise of his grandfather, his uncle took the responsibility of taking care of him.
Muhammad (PBUH) is a an example of perfect Human being, for he was a perfect example of sublime character. Allah (Swt) in His glorious Qur’an was Addressing the Prophet, were He said ” We have not sent you except as a Mercy to all the world”(21:107).
Looking at the life of the prophet and how he dealt with His companions and the non Muslims he lived with, we can conclude that He is, indeed, a creature that a naked eyes had never seen an atom of his like. For instance, it is narrated that the prophet used to travel in the rear guard so that he could help the weaker of his companions and carry those whose mounts had faltered and were no longer able to bear a burden!
The prophet (PBUH) met the tribes of Mecca as foes that are fighting with each other, even with a slightest reason. But he successfully installed love in their hearts, to the extend that Allah (Swt) addresses them as people that are compassionate to their brothers but hardhearted to their common enemies. In terms of Humility, the prophet is a perfect example, as Sayyadina Ibn Abbas related, “The messenger of Allah would sit upon the earth, and eat upon the earth. he would milk the ewe, and respond to the invitation (to food) of the freedom and the slave even for the simple trotter meal”
A leader that can command all the world at then, was the one sitting on earth without being arrogant to those around him! What an embodiment of humility! Despite being the leader of the Ummah, Zaid Bin Thabit (R.A) reported that “When we sit with the prophet and we began to talk about afterlife he would join in with us. if we began to talk about worldly affairs he would also join in with us. If we began to speak about food and drink he would also join in with us”. There is no point where the prophet left His companions without being with them, and without being kind to them. Imam Ali (A.S) said: “The apostle of God whenever he saw that one of his companions was dejected he would always joke with him to delight him.”
When we turn to his forgiving nature, we can find a Hadith from Anas (R.A) where he Said “I was walking with the apostle of God and He was wearing a rough cloak from Najran. A Bedouin Arab approached Him and pulled him so violently by rough cloak that I saw his shoulder had been marked by the rough cloak. then the man said ‘O Muhammad, give me some of God’s wealth that you have! The prophet turned to him and laughed and ordered a gift for him”.
In the part of His abstinence, Ibn Abbas related a Hadith, He said: “The messenger of of God used to go out without eating every other night and His family could find nothing to eat. Mostly their bread was of barley”. His merciful and kindness is second to none, as a Hadith was reported that, If the prophet heard during prayer, a child is crying, he would hasten the end of the prayer so that the child’s mother could go to the child.
One of His Sahaba one day said to Him ” O Apostle of God, you made the prayer lighter today! He said ‘I heard child crying and I feared that his mother would be concerned”. His merciful and kindness is not toward Human beings alone, but to animals too. AbdulRahman Ibn Abdullahi was reported saying “We were on a journey with the apostle of God when we saw a small bird with two chicks. so, we took the two chicks and the bird came flapping its wings in distress. When the Prophet came, he said: ‘who has bereaved this of her children? Return her to her children”
One day, he was sitting when a cat came and slept on his sleeve. When he wanted to get up, he did want to disturb her, so he cut off the piece of His sleeve on which she was sleeping. On the side of his bravery, Imam Ali (A.s) said; “Whenever the fighting became intense we would shield ourselves with the apostle of God and no one would be closer to the enemy than him”. He (Ali) was also quoted saying ” For the sake of the pleasure of God, he (PBUH) went through every adversity and swallowed every bitter morsel. Those nearest to him were fickle and those furthest from him conspired against him. The Arabs prepared war upon him until they brought their enmity toward his doorstep from the furthest outpost”.
Anas Ibn Malik said “The prophet of God was the bravest of the people..One night, the people of madina were alarmed so they set out toward the noise. they were met by the apostle of God who had gone before them and was saying ‘Do not fear’ , he was on the horse belonging to Abu talha with his sword round His neck”. Regarding his prayer, he was passionate in his submission to God. Imam Husayn (A.s), spoken regarding the humility of the prophet while praying, he said “He (PBUH) would weep until his prayer mat became wet with tears for fear of God, but not because he had sinned for he was without sin”
He had never sin, but He always seek for Allah’s forgiveness. Imam Rida (A.s) relates: the apostle of God would not stand up from a gathering however brief without seeking forgiveness from Almighty God twenty five times” . Imam Sadiq (A.s) also relates: the apostle of God used to seek forgiveness from Almighty God 70 times every day and repent to Him 70 times every day “If not for the fear of making this article long, I would have spent all my time citing and praising this noble man, but I will close by citing the word of Imam Ali where he said regarding the prophet “He (PBUH) was the most openhanded of people, and the most lenient of them, and the most noble. Whoever met him and knew him loved him”.
SallaLLaHu AlaiHi Wa AhliHee WaSalLam
Muhammad Sagir,Bauchi[email protected]