MUHAMMAD

Jubayr ibn Mut‘im‚ related that the prophet said, sallallahu alayhi wa sallim, “I have five names. I am Muhammad. I am Ahmad. I am al-Mahi‚ (the Obliterator, or Effacer), by whom Allah effaces kufr. I am al-Hashir (the Gatherer) before whom people are gathered. I am al-‘Aqib” (the Last).

He, sallallahu alayhi wa sallim, is called Muhammad, because he is endowed the most with those qualities that are praiseworthy among mankind. It is also a description of his station among men that more than any other he has been, is and will be, praised by others repeatedly, and along with love of him this is the most appropriate attitude towards him.

He, sallallahu alayhi wa sallim, was called by Allah, subhanahu wa ta’ala, Ahmad, the most praiseworthy, because there is no one more worthy of praise than him, and because he is the one most commended and approved of by Allah. There is no other that can be deemed better or more perfect than him in his source or his form. This relates to his name, Mustafa, the one chosen by Allah, and no one can choose more perfectly than Allah.

Both names are from the Arabic word HAMD which includes the meaning of being freed from imperfection and impurity.

Praise for everything belongs to Allah, and He has given those qualities that deserve praise to His Habib, His Beloved, sayyidina Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallim.

The Prophet then is all that is worthy of praise and emulation, above all others.

He is al-Mahi, the Obliterator, or Effacer, by whom Allah dispels kufr. When the light of his perfection shines it destroys the darkness of ignorance and arrogance, and foils the wiles of Shaytan.

He is al-Hashir, the One who gathers people to him. He is the one who gathers people together like a shepherd to the deen of Islam. He gathers them into his Ummah, and weeps for them, and he is their last hope against their failings in this world.

He is al-Aqib the Last, the Successor. He is the successor of all the prophets and messengers that came before him. He has all they had and more. He has what they did not have; he was before sayyidina Adam, alayhi sallim, as well as after sayyidina ‘Isa, alayhi sallim. There will be none after him, because he is the last. The message is delivered, the way is clear. It will not be changed or added to. All that is left to us is to follow in the traces of his footsteps.

May Allah grant blessings and peace upon him, his family and companions and grant success to all who follow in their footsteps by every atom that He, subhanahu wa ta’ala created.

Allah! Make our praise of You be the following of Your Rasul in word, action, courtesy and behaviour.

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