Showing Reverence and Respect for the name of
Sayyidinaa Muhammad al Mustafa صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
نحمد الله العلي العظيم ونصلي على رسوله الكريم
وآله وأصحابه وأهل بيته أجمعين
One of the duties of the believer is to love and show the proper reverence and respect for our Master Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim. Love demands the utmost reverence and respect for the one claim to love. While showing our love for our Master Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim a believer a should not even mention the name of our Beloved Prophet Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم without a title, such as Sayyidina (Our Master), Nabiyyina (Our Nabiy) etc.
Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, when calling him, does not call him with his name (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم); rather, He calls him in a manner that expresses honor and glorification. For example, in the Holy Qur’an, He calls him saying, “O ye Prophet, Yaa Ayyuhan Nabi!” and “O ye Messenger, Yaa ayyuhal Rasul!” .
Allahu ta’ala further says:
لَّا تَجْعَلُوا دُعَاءَ الرَّسُولِ بَيْنَكُمْ كَدُعَاءِ بَعْضِكُم بَعْضًاۚ
“ Make not the calling of the messenger among you as your calling one of another.” (An-Nur: 63).
When the name of Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم is used in a derogatory manner the individual deserves the punish of Allahu ta’ala. This blessed name was never given to anyone before our Beloved Nabiy Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim. Qadhi Iyadh in “Ash Shifa” mentions that this blessed name was never given to anyone before Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallim.
The Tawassul of Sayyidina Adam by the Blessed name ofRasulullah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم.
We know of the well-known hadith concerning the tawassul of Sayyidina Adam ‘alaihi salaam:
On the authority of authority of Sayyidinaa Umar ibn al Khattab radhi Allahu ‘anhu:
“When Adam committed his mistake he said: O my Lord, I am asking you to forgive me for the sake of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. Allah said: O Adam, and how do you know about Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم whom I have not yet created? Adam replied, O my Lord, after You created me with your hand and breathed into me of Your Spirit, I raised my head and saw written on the heights of the Throne:
LA ILAHA ILLALLAH MUHAMMAD UN RASULULLAH
I understood that You would not place next to Your Name but the Most Beloved One of Your creation. Allah said: O Adam, I have forgiven you, and were it not for Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم I would not have created you.”
The hadith is also included by Qadi `Iyad among the “sound and famous narrations” in al-Shifa, and he says that Abu Muhammad al-Makki and Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi mention it; Qadi `Iyad says: “It is said that this hadith explains the verse:
فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِۚ
‘And Adam received words from his Lord and He relented towards him’ (2:37)”; he continues to cite another very similar version through al-Ajurri (d. 360), about whom al-Qari said: “al-Halabi said: This seems to be the imam and guide Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn `Abd Allah al-Baghdadi, the compiler of the books al-Shari`a devoted to the Sunna, al-Arba`un, and others.’” This is confirmed by Ibn Taymiyya in his Qa`ida fi al-tawassul: “It is related by Shaykh Abu Bakr al-Ajurri, in his book al-Shari`a.”
By virtue of the Name of Sayyidina Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, dua is accepted and mistakes are forgiven. The common practice nowadays of naming sons with the Blessed name of our Beloved Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim must be done with the utmost care. The parent that calls the child in an angry manner using the blessed name risks the punishment of Allahu ta’ala because of dishonoring the name of Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallim.
Misusing and abusing the Name of Sayyidinaa Muhammad al Mustafa صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم
Parents in a fit of anger may say, “Come here so and so you stupid boy!” if the parent is calling the blessed name of our Master Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, this is a form of disparaging the name that Allahu ta ‘ala has exalted and has even sworn by. A name that Allahu ta’ala does not call on our Beloved by directly in the Holy Qur’an. Allahu ta ‘ala has said Yaa Musa. Yaa Ibrahim, Ya ‘Isa. But Allahu ta ‘ala says Yaa Ayyuhal Muzammil. Yaa Ayyuhal Muddathir etc.
Allahu ta ‘ala says,
لَّا تَجْعَلُوا دُعَاءَ الرَّسُولِ بَيْنَكُمْ كَدُعَاءِ بَعْضِكُم بَعْضًاۚ
"Do not make the calling of the Messenger among yourselves like the calling to one another." 24:63
Some families because of the honor and majesty in which Allahu ta’ala holds the blessed name of our master Sayyidinaa Muhammad al Mustafa صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم give their children the honorific title “Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم” before the actual name of the child. The child may be named Sa’id, and the parents may call him Muhammad-Sa’id, the child may be named Yusuf and called Muhammad -Yusuf. But the parents never call the child just by the Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم out of love and reverence for the Blessed name of our Master Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. The parents and those who understand this would say Sa’id or Muhammad-Sa’id. Yusuf or Muhammad -Yusuf, ‘Aliy or Muhammad ‘Aliy. If the parent is abusing and cursing the child calling on the name of our master Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم , this may be viewed as an attack on the Blessed name itself. So out of an abundance of caution, parents say Sa’id or Muhammad-Sa’id. Muhammad-Sa’id is distinctly referring to someone else other than our beloved Sayyidinaa Muhammad al Mustafa صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم . In instances where the child is given the name itself, he is usually addressed as Muhammad ibn so and so or Shaykh Muhammad which is a clear distinguisher.
Mentioning the name of our Master Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم and obligations concerning it
Qadhi Iyadh mentions,
“ The Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, defined a miser saying, "A miser is someone who does not supplicate for praise upon me (salawaat) when I am mentioned in his presence." On the same subject, Jafar ibn Muhammad reports the saying of the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, "When I am mentioned in the presence of a person and he does not supplicate for praise upon me, he has swerved away from the Path to the Garden."
Therefore when hearing the name of Sayyidinaa Muhammad Al Mustafa صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم we are obligated to send salawaat and salaams.
Qadhi Iyyadh also mentions in Ash Shifaa in the section concerning Respect and Honor of the Prophet,
“ Authoritative verses in the Qur’an to praise, respect and honor the Prophet Allah made it obligatory to support, revere and respect His Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. He says,
إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا [٤٨:٨]
لِّتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا [٤٨:٩]
"We have sent you (Prophet Muhammad) as a witness and as a bearer of glad tidings and warning. So that you (people) believe in Allah and His Messenger and that you support him and revere him." 48:8-9.
Allah also says,
"Believers do not advance before Allah and His Messenger...
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ [٤٩:١]
Believers, do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak loudly to him as you do to one another lest your works be annulled without your knowledge, Fear Allah. Allah is the Hearer, the Knower." 49:1.
Also,
لَّا تَجْعَلُوا دُعَاءَ الرَّسُولِ بَيْنَكُمْ كَدُعَاءِ بَعْضِكُم بَعْضًاۚ
"Do not make the calling of the Messenger among yourselves like the calling to one another." 24:63
In the first verse quoted, our attention is drawn to the obligation to honor Prophet Muhammad, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, and show him the greatest respect. Scholars such as Al Akhfash and At-Tabari are of the opinion that it also means that he should be helped and assisted. Believers are warned in the second quoted verse not to speak before him, to do otherwise would constitute extremely bad manners. Sahl ibn Abdullah At-Tustori' said that the verse means, do not speak before he speaks and when he speaks listen to him in silence.
Al Hasan and several Companions said that when it came to decision making, the Companions were forbidden to carry out any matter before the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, had spoken and given his instruction. They were not permitted to precede him in such matters.
Allah concludes this verse with the caution that good deeds may amount to nothing without one's knowledge, then He warns that believers must fear Him.
As-Sulami said it means that one must fear Allah if you disregard or neglect what is due to the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, remember that Allah hears and knows what we do.
It has been said that this verse was sent down when a delegation from the tribe of Tamin came and shouted out "Muhammad, Muhammad, come out to us."
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُنَادُونَكَ مِن وَرَاءِ الْحُجُرَاتِ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ [٤٩:٤]
And that Allah censured them for being ignorant and said "most of them lack understanding." 49:4.
However, it has also been said that the verse was revealed about people other than the tribesmen of Tamin.
It has also been said that the former verse was sent down in reference to a conversation between Abu Bakr and Omar that took place in the presence of the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, that erupted into a dispute in which voices were raised. After the revelation of this verse Abu Bakr went to the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, and said, "By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, after this I will only speak to you as one speaks to someone when telling him a secret!" From then onwards Omar also spoke to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, in the same manner as Abu Bakr, however his voice was so low that it was almost inaudible to the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him. Then Allah sent down the verse,
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَىٰۚ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ [٤٩:٣]
"Those who lower their voice in the presence of the Messenger of Allah are those whose hearts Allah has tested for warding off (evil). They shall receive forgiveness and a great wage." 49:3
It has also been said that it was sent down about Thabit ibn Kays, the spokesman appointed by the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, to counter the boasting of the tribesmen of Tamim. Thabit was somewhat hard of hearing and it was his habit to raise his voice. When the verse was revealed he
became fearful and remained in his home fearing that his deeds were now worthless. Later, he went to the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, and told him, "O Prophet of Allah, I fear that I am destroyed. Allah has forbidden us to raise our voices, and I have a loud voice." The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, comforted him and gave him good news saying, "Thabit, are you not happy to live in a manner that is worthy of praise, and be slain as a martyr, and enter the Garden?" Thabit was martyred in the Battle of Yamama.
Of the third verse Abu Muhammad Makki explained, ""Do not make the calling of the Messenger among yourselves like the calling to one another" as meaning that no one should either speak before him or coarsely to him. Also, the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, should be respected and held in high esteem and not called out to as one would call to each other, rather he should be called with the noblest titles such as Messenger of Allah or Prophet of Allah. Safwan ibn Assal tells of the time when the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, was on a journey and a Bedouin approached, and called to him in a loud voice, "Muhammad, Muhammad!" He was told to lower his voice because it had been forbidden to raise one's voice to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him.
Of the verse,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَقُولُوا رَاعِنَا
"Believers, do not say 'Observe us'" 2:104
a commentator explained that this phrase was in common use among the Helpers (Ansar) and bears the conditional meaning of "Observe us, and we will observe you". Out of respect the Ansar were forbidden to use the phrase when speaking to the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. It has also been said that the Jews would use the same phrase in mockery of the Prophet, صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم, because the word "Ra'ina" in Hebrew means evil.”
Finally Qadhi Iyyadh wrote a whole section on the fate of the individual that disparages our Beloved Nabiy.صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم.
We quote a small portion below.
“Know that all who curse Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, or blame him or attribute imperfection to him in his person, his lineage, his deen or any of his qualities, or alludes to that or it’s like by any means whatsoever, whether in the form of a curse or contempt or belittling him or detracting from him or finding fault with him or maligning him, the judgement regarding such a person is the same as the judgement against anyone who curses him. He is killed as we shall make clear. This judgement extends to anything which amounts to a curse or disparagement. We have no hesitation concerning this matter, be it a clear statement or allusion.
The same applies to anyone who curses him, invokes against him, desires to harm him, ascribes to him what does not befit his position or jokes about his mighty affair with foolish talk, satire, disliked words or lies, or reviles him because of any affliction or trial which happened to him or disparages him, because of any of the permissible and well-known human events which happened to him. All of this is the consensus of scholars and the imams of fatwa from the time of the Companions until today.
Abu Bakr ibn al-Mundhir said that the bulk of the people of knowledge agree that whoever curses the Prophet is killed. These include Malik ibn Anas, al-Layth, Ahmad ibn Hanbal and Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, and it is the position of the Shafi‘i school. Qadi Abu’l-Fadl said that it is based on the statement of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. His repentance is not accepted. Something similar was stated by Abu Hanifa and his people, ath-Thawri and the people of Kufa and al-Awza‘i about the Muslims. However, they said that it constitutes apostasy.”
Finally, the ‘Ulama are not unanimous on the prohibition of calling a person solely by the name of our Master Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم if done so in a respectful manner and, provided the person is not being address with anger or cursed while being addressed.
Love has its own rules and its own inner and outward décor and the Lovers of Sayyidinaa Muhammad al Mustafa صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم take every precaution out of love and respect to give our Master Sayyidinaa Muhammad al Mustafaa صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم all the rights that are his due. And there is no following or obeying without true love, reverence, and respect even for the blessed name of Sayyidinaa Muhammad صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم.
“And Adab (good conduct and manners) comes from the heart.”- Sayyidinaa Shaykh Sayyid Mubarik ‘Ali Gilani Hassani wal Hussaini Hashimi Qadiri رضی اللہ تعالٰی عنہ .