بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
نحمد الله العلي العظيم ونصلي على رسوله الكريم وآله وأصحابه وأهل بيته أجمعين
Muhammad Sa'id Hunafa Qadiri
A’oothu Billahi min ash shaytanir rajim Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Nahmaduhu wa Nusalli ‘alaa Rasulihil Kareem. Was Salaatu was Salaamu ‘alaa Sayyidil Ambiyaa’ wal Mursaleen. Sayyidinaa Wa Shafee’enaa wa Habeebinaa wa Nabiyyinaa wa Mawlaanaa Muhammadin Abdika Wa Rasulikan Nabiyyil Ummiyy wa ‘alaa Aalihi wa Ashaabihi wa Azwaaji wa Ahli Bayti wa Dhurriyaatihi wa Ummatihi ajma’eena birahmatika Yaa Ar Hamar Rahimn.,
Wa Qaal Allahu ta ‘alaa fi Kalaamihil Majid:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ [٣:٣١]
قُلْ أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْكَافِرِينَ [٣:٣٢]
Qul Atwiullaha war Rasul, Fain tawallaw fa inn Allaha
laa yuhibbul Kafireen
Qaala Nabiyyu Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim;
لَا يُؤمِنُ اَحَدَكُمْ حَتَّى اَكُوُنُ اَحَبَّ إِلَيهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَ لَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِين
Laa yu’minu ahadukum hatta akoono ahabba ilayhi min waalidi wa walidihi wan naasi ajma’een.
For the true believers, Hubbur Rasul total and complete love of Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallim is a requirement of Imam. Allahu ta ‘ala ‘ala has equated loving Him with obeying and emulating the Noble and Blessed Character of the Best of created beings Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallim. Allahu Subhana Hu has also tied His forgiveness with following and emulating the Best of Creation Khayri Khalqillah Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallim. It is not possible to sincerely follow someone or to obey someone with absolute surrender until and unless one loves, respects and reveres that individual more than oneself and ones desires. Therefore it is not possible to Love Allahu ta ‘ala without also loving and obeying and showing the proper respect to our Master Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Sallim.
There are those who say that our love for Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim is excessive. That we love Sayyidinaa Rasul Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim too much. The very nature of true love is that one loses him or herself in the object of love. Allahu ta ‘ala is commanding us to lose ourselves in the love of the Holy Last Messenger Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim. There is no such thing as excessive love for Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa sallim.
Read more: How Much Love for Rasulullah Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa sallim
The Immense Love and Value of Ahl Al Bayt in Islamic Tradition
Al Hamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen was salaat wa salaamu ‘alaa Sayyidil Mursaleen, Habeebunaa wa Mawlanaa Muhammadin, Khaatimul Ambiyaai wal Mursaleen wa Imaamul Muttaqeen wa Qaaidil Ghurril Muhaajaleen, wa Shafeeil mudhnibeen Rasuli Rabbil ‘Aalameen wa ‘alaa Aalihi wa Ashaabihi wa Azwaajihi wa Dhurriyaatihi wa Awliyaaihi wa Mashaaikunaa ajma’een, wa Sallim tasliman kathiran kathiran birahmatika Yaa Arhamar Rahimeen.
Qaal Allahu ta ‘ala fi Kalaamihil Qadeem ba’da Authu billah min as shaytanir rajim Bismillahir Rahmanir
ذَلِكَ الَّذِي يُبَشِّرُ اللَّهُ عِبَادَهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ قُلْ لا أَسْأَلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا إِلا الْمَوَدَّةَ فِي الْقُرْبَى وَمَنْ يَقْتَرِفْ حَسَنَةً نَزِدْ
لَهُ فِيهَا حُسْنًا إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ شَكُورٌ
That is (the Bounty) whereof Allah gives Glad Tidings to His Servants who believe and do righteous deeds. Say: "No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin." And if any one earns any good, We shall give him an increase of good in respect thereof: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Ready to appreciate (service). Al-Qur'an, 42:23 (Ash-Shura [Council, Consultation])
Alhamduillah, Allahu ta ‘ala has indeed bestowed His bounties and His Mercy in that He Subhanahu has guided us to the straight path, the path of certitude and the path of Love of His Beloved Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim. Moreover Allahu ta ‘ala has allowed us to be among those who have found the ultimate satisfaction. We have been gathered here in this place at this time by invitation. Everyone here has been brought here, has been compelled to come here as a special ni’mah [favor] of Allahu ta ‘ala. We are here because of our special love for Sayyidinaa Rasuli Akram Sall Allahu ‘alaihi wa Aalihi wa Sallim and his beloved Family. A family whose love is a requirement of Iman.
Read more: The Immense Love and Value of Ahl Al Bayt in Islamic Tradition
There is a tradition that when Amir al-Mu'mineen Ali sojourned in the country of Yaman, preached, and taught the ordinances of Islam, and Ka'bul-akhbar had been informed of his eloquence, he donned a robe, mounted a camel, and proceeded in company of one of the Ulama of the Jews, who was his co-religionist, to the assembly of the Amir, who at the time they entered, happened to be preaching and uttering the words, 'There are men who can see in the night, but not in the day,' and Ka'bul-akbar said: 'He speaks the truth.' Afterwards the illustrious Commander said: 'Whoever gives with a short hand will be requited with a long hand.' Ka'b again manifested his approbation, but his Jewish companion asked him how he could approve of sentiments the meaning whereof is ambiguous? Ka'b, however, replied: 'The man who sees in the night, but not in the day, is he who believes in the first book [i.e., the Pentateuch] but not in the last [i.e., the Holy Qur'an]. He who sees neither in the night nor in the day is a man who believes in neither; and the other assertion is [likewise] plain, because with Allah the Most High and Glorious alms are acceptable, and He returns them abundantly.' Meanwhile a mendicant begged something from Ka'b, who immediately divested himself of his cloak and surrendered it to him. The Jewish priest was so displeased with this act that he immediately left Ka'b, and returned to his home.