Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim
Glory be to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala (SWT)) the Provider, the Sustainer and Overcomer of all creatures. Unalloyed blessings be upon the holy Messenger Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam (SAW)) and the entire dutiful followers till eternity. The world attests to the dexterity of the noble Messenger. His magnum opus lords him over several other Divine Message Bearers across board. Islamic brotherhood across the world attracting 2 billions representing 25.6% and 97 millions out of the 200million people in Nigeria alone.
This projects the personality of Muhammad to a curious mind about who Prophet Muhammad is. Contextually, the name Muhammad appears in the Glorious Qur'an four times with several paraphernalia numbering hundreds. Mahmud is another adjectival name as evident from love for him by Allah denoting The beloved. And the Injil (Bible Mathew) earlier projected him as Ahmad, meaning A Thanks-giver. Several other names arise from admiration of charismatic, nobility, kindness, tenderness and morality.
Part of of the names ascribed to Prophet Muhammad include Taha and Yasin. These two as emanted from the holy Qur'an attract various views. Popular among these include the fact that the Mufassirun (Exegetes) of the Qur'an like Ibn Jubayr and Muhammad bn Hanafiy adapted them for his personality. Another dimension is the Historian frivolous account of the names. While Imam Al-Ghazaliy evaluated the views by placing on record that on no account should the Messenger be given a name other than only the ones given to him by his Lord (Tafsiru n Nasafiy 2/349, Al Khasaisu l Kubra 1/191) as related in Aliy as Sabuniy, Nazarati ala Khasaisi l Anbiya').
The position of Imam Al-Ghazaliy appears in tandem with yet another authentic Hadith which offers the far-reaching position on the imminity of the Messenger (SAW). It says: 'Project me not beyond the expected level just as did by the Jews and the Christians to their Prophets.' Nonetheless, the noble Messenger stands advantage on other creatures in four spectacular capacites. As emanated from the Celestial Ascension report, his name was found written around the walls of Al-Jannah. Adding to that is the eschatological factor that he would be the first to be resurrected. Not only that, he would ride a horse carrying a celebrated flag of praise on the Last Day. The fourth priority is that he would be privileged to intercede for the Ummah. All these might seem beyond human comprehension though, the events form part of a Muslim doctrines.
To this end, it follows to congratulate ardent Believers for being entitled to unequalled benefits on the platter of following the guidance brought by the Messenger. This parallel advantage is encapsulated in the following line of poetry: بشرى لنا معشر الاسلام ان لنا # من العناية ركنا غير منعدم meaning: 'Congratulations to us Muslims for having; an outlandish portion that remains invincible.' It is to this extent that the estimation of the holy Messenger's life appears enviable. Among the Chronicules Orientalist is an icon through whose pen the world was fed with number one position in all ramifications.
The writer tagged the noble Messenger "The Desert Boy". الفضل ما شهد به عدو meaning: 'Honour indeed is a valour acknowledged by perceived foe', the Messenger was ranked 'the first among all acclaimed leaders of the world.' The horizons and yardsticks of the assessment include the Administrative, Political, Moral, Religious, Social, Judicial as well as Military prowess. Topping the rank of world leaders whose acumen and theorem endure beyond imaginations appears more miraculous aside from the preserved Qur'an text.
Thus as an indication for ardent followers of the Messenger, Allah says in Qur'an 3: 110: "You are the best of Peoples evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah. If only the People of the Book had faith, it were best for them: among them are some who have faith, but most of them are perverted transgressors." During and beyond the period of Maolud Nabiyy, Muslims are charged on both intra and inter relationships well routed in the Sunnan of the Messenger. These include celebrating Maolud Nabiyy moderately in view of the fact that avenues for religious gather to organized for educative purposes appear rather dwindled if not non-existent.
Maolud Nabiyy period could be used to strengthen the bond among families of various categories. Like it happened on September 2025, Maolud Nabiyy holiday fell on Friday which gave hype to the bonding to Jum'ah Masjid by most members of the family. This was rather unprecedented in stregthening not only the attendance but also the financial reward of various Masjid. This stamps the incessant calls for possible making Jum'at day a work-free day.
By extension, it would not only satisfy the motive of ...ان اقيموا الدين ولا تتفرقوا فيه... meaning: '... That you must uphold the religion and not dismember it... '(Qur'an 42:13) on one hand as taking the Ummah beyond the verge of disintegration. On the other hand, however, the four square themes of the last segment of Suratul 'Asr would be revitalized. These are: Imbuing fortifications through Iman, accompanied good deeds, exchange of truth at all costs, and of course level-playing ground with patience and perseverance.
To sum it up, Muslim scholars should steer clear from settling scores through both intra and inter-inclination programs during the period of Maolud Nabiyy. It may not be uncommon to find elongated celebrations across Rabi'ul Awwal to the close of Ramadan. It enables shared distribution of values of the religious and of course sense of belonging particularly in this part of the clime. However, Muslims must desist from turning Maolud Nabiyy celebration into potential avenues for perpetration of evils on the name of Islam. This is the central theme of the Qur'an portion which says: 'And for such as had entertained the fear of standing before their Lord's (tribunal) and had restrained (their) soul from lower desires. Their abode will be the Garden (Qur'an 79: 13-14). Till another edition, thank you for your patience.
DR. RAZAQ BOLAWAYE UTHMAN, IMAM & MISSIONER ANSAR-UD-DEEN SOCIETY OF NIGERIA IPAJA BRANCH LAGOS STATE NIGERIA. © Copyrights2025
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