even then we would not be able to fulfil the right of his saying ‘Ummati’ once.’ (‘Aashiq-e-Akbar, pp. 53)

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

How should an Ummati [follower] be?

Dear Islamic sisters! We are listening to the parables of the blessed affection the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has for his Ummah. اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه we are proud to be in the Ummah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Now, we should ponder over ourselves whether or not we also have the same spirit of love for our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as an Ummati should have. For example, the follower [Ummati] of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should offer Salah regularly; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should have the knowledge of the necessary rulings and other Fard and Wajib acts; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be pious and abstinent; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be the  one who fulfils her Shar’i responsibilities; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should love reciting the Holy Quran; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be the one who not only saves herself from impermissible and Haraam acts, but she also saves her children from these acts, she also gives proper Islamic upbringing to her children; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be Allah-fearing; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be the one who strives to reform herself and other Islamic sisters; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should have good qualities; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be the one who refrains from immodesty; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should keep herself away from inner evils; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be the well-wisher of Muslims; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be obedient to the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم; the follower of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم should be the one who follows Sunnah. May Merciful Allah Almighty enable us to act upon the Sunnah of the Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم!