Pious Deeds That Deepen Love for Prophet Muhammad

Pious Deeds That Bring Closeness to the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

No matter how elevated a person's level of piety, he should never be heedless of preparing for his true destination, which is the grave and the Hereafter. Undoubtedly, being granted the ability to perform pious deeds is one of the great blessings of Allah Almighty. Therefore, we should be grateful to the Lord of the universe in every moment for granting us the opportunity to earn pious deeds in this temporal world. The essence of all these pious deeds and the greatest means by which a person becomes accepted in the court of Allah Almighty and is honoured with proximity to the noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, is love for the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Indeed, this love is the greatest proof and sign of perfect faith. Let us read some faith-inspiring narrations to illuminate our hearts with the light of this love and to revive our souls.

Love for the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

(1) It is narrated from Sayyidunā Anas b. Mālik رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ that a man asked, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! When is the Day of Judgment?”

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, “Woe to you! What have you prepared for it?"

The man responded, “I have not prepared anything for it except that I love Allah and His Messenger.”

The noble Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم declared, “Indeed, you will be with the one whom you love.”

Sayyidunā Anas رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ commented, “I did not see the Muslims rejoice over anything after Islam as much as they rejoiced over this.”[1]

This man was a deeply pious and devout worshipper, yet he did not regard all his good deeds as preparation for the Day of Judgment. He considered these pious deeds to be the blessings of Allah Almighty that he had received and was still receiving in this world, which he was grateful for. He said that his only preparation for the Hereafter is his love for the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.[2]

In the commentary on this narration, ꜤAllāmah Mullā ꜤAlī al-Qārī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states:

This is because all these deeds are branches of love and stem from it, and love is the highest stage for travellers on the path (of truth) and the highest rank for those who soar (towards the heights). This love is the cause of Allah's love or is a result of it.[3]

Closeness to the Messenger صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the Hereafter

(2) It is narrated from Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh b. MasꜤūd رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ that a man came to the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and asked, “O Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم! What do you say about a person who loves (pious) people but has not been able to reach their rank (in deeds)?”

The beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied: اَلْمَرْءُ مَعَ مَنْ اَحَبَّ “A person will be with the one whom he loves [on the Day of Judgment]." [4]

Imam al-Bukhārī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه, through the portion of the Hadith mentioned in this chapter—“A person will be with the one whom he loves”—has indicated that the true standard for this claim of love, which becomes a means of proximity in the Hereafter, is none other than the following of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. [5]

Those who loved without seeing

(3) Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ reports that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “From among those of my nation who have the most intense love for me will be people who are born after me. Every one of them will wish that he could have seen me in exchange for his family and wealth.” [6]

Meaning, he would sacrifice his family and belongings to see the Prophet's beauty that illuminates the world, whether in a waking state or in a dream. [7] It is only possible to see our beloved Master صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم when there is love for him in the heart, and it is this love that will be the reason for gaining closeness to the Messenger صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in the Hereafter, اِنْ شَــآءَالـلّٰـه.

Dearer than all people

(4) The noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “None of you can be a believer until I am dearer to him than his parents, children, and all people.” [8]

O devotees of the Prophet! Parents have a natural affection and love for their children, and children for their parents. This love should be greater for the noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه, for every believer, the noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is dearer to them than their life, wealth, and children.

The sign of perfect faith

(5) Once, the second Caliph of Islam, Sayyidunā ꜤUmar b. al-Khaṭṭāb رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ said to the beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, “You are dearer to me than everything except my life.”

The noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “None of you can ever be a perfect believer until I am dearer to him than his own life.”

Upon hearing this, Sayyidunā ꜤUmar رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ submitted, “By the One who revealed the Book to you, indeed you are dearer to me than my own life.”

Upon this, the noble Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said,  اَلْاٰنَ  یَا عُمَر “O ꜤUmar! Now [your faith has become perfect].” [9]

(6) In one narration, it is stated: “Whoever has three things will find the sweetness of faith.” One of them is: “Allah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than everything else.”[10]

May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to love the final Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم with our heart and soul.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خَاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ