reward in the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, observe Nafl fasts for the first 12 days in this month. Make special efforts to observe a fast on the 12^th in particular, for the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would fast every Monday to mark the day of his birth. Hence, Sayyiduna Qatadah رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ states: The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was asked about his fasting on Mondays, so he صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘I was born on this day, and I received revelation on this day.’ (Muslim, p. 455, Hadees 2750)

O devotees of the Prophet! Undoubtedly, one sign of a true devotee is that he will turn away from the love of this world and adopt obedience to the Prophet in every matter of his life. One example of this is the personality of Ameer-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat, ‘Allamah Maulana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qaadiri دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ. He دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ observes fast on the 12^th of Rabi’-ul-Awwal and particularly on every Monday, and he دَامَـتْ بَـرَكَـاتُـهُـمُ الْـعَـالِـيَـهْ also encourages his Mureeds [disciples] and followers to fast every Monday. Therefore, in remembrance of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, not only should we fast ourselves, but we should encourage our family members, friends and relatives to fast on the 12^th also, and express our gratitude to the Merciful Lord upon this great gift by doing so, and earn the blessings of this world and the hereafter by presenting its reward in the court of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب                 صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Remember the beloved in abundance

Dear Islamic brothers! Love for the Final Prophet of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the foundation of our faith, and a sign of love is to mention the beloved often. It is stated in a narration: ‘مَنْ اَحَبَّ شَیْئًا اَکْثَرَ مِنْ ذِکْرِہٖ’, i.e. whosoever loves a thing, he mentions it often. (Jami’-us-Sagheer, p. 507, Hadees 8312)

Thus, we should remember the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم throughout the year, and express our love for him through our words and our conduct, and this expression of love should increase in the blessed days of Rabi’-ul-Awwal. One excellent way of partaking in this remembrance is to send Salat