{INDEED, there has come unto you [O mankind] a Messenger from amongst yourselves; heavily it weighs upon him [the thought] that you might suffer [in the life to come]; full of concern for you, full of compassion and mercy towards the believers} (9:128)

Anas reported that the Messenger of God, peace and mercy be upon him, said:“None of you will believe until I am more beloved to him than his children, his father, and all people.”
{Muslim, Al-Bukhari and an-Nasa’i}

These are some excerpts from the book Kanz Al-Najah wa As-Suroor, a book highlighting the special qualities of each month. We are now in the month of Rabi Al-Awwal. We ask Allah that He blesses us in this month with a sincere connection to and love for the beloved Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Ameen.

Know that during this month it is recommended for one to increase in his or her sending of blessings and mercy upon the Prophet (salawat or durood shareef), the Master of Humankind, peace and mercy be upon him. The reason is because it was in this month that the greatest blessing was revealed to the world. In this month the cause of the greatest happiness emerged. In this month the Sun of Guidance rose over mankind and jinn. In this month the Prophet peace and mercy be upon him was born.

Recommended Things to do this Month:

• Increase in the sending of mercy, peace, and blessings upon the Messenger of God. Allah commands this in the verse {Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation!} (33:56).
• Read and reflect upon the Biography (Sirah) of the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him. Many scholars strongly encourage people to take advantage of this month by reading his life and inculcating his Prophetic character into one’s own. Two great books that are in English are “Muhammad – His Life Based on the Earliest Sources” by Martin Lings, and “Al-Shifa” by Qadi.
• For a good audio version of the Prophetic Biography there is “The Life of the Prophet Muhammad ” by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
• Give out charity (sadaqah) in its many forms as often as possible.
• Increase in reading the Quran.
• Fast as often as possible this month.
• Express one’s love for the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, inwardly and outwardly.
• Renew one’s oath to follow Allah’s Messenger, peace and mercy be upon him, in his or her inward and outward actions.
• Attend gatherings of remembrance of Allah and His Messenger, such as Mawlids, Hadith readings, or any other praiseworthy gathering to remember the Most High and His Beloved, peace and mercy be upon him.

We ask Allah that He blesses us, our families, and the entire Ummah during this month by allowing us to reconnect with the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him. We should try to embody him, peace and mercy be upon him, in all that we do, say, and think. If we attempt to actualize our love for the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, during this month and during our entire lives it may be that Allah will grant us the Prophet’s intercession on the Day of Judgment and He grants us a place in the highest levels of Paradise in the company of the Prophets, the Siddiqeen, and the Elite Angels. Ameen!

Much thanks to Sidi Amjad Tarsin who has graciously supplied this article and many more regarding the Islamic months.

I Can’t Explain You (Oh Messenger of God)
by Aaron Haroon Sellars 4/24/08

I could not write about you
For fear
Fear of your presence
And fear of
My hearts’ brittleness
That I might die
In this pursuit
Yet wishing to die
In this state of intoxicated love
This is the conflict within me
Language cannot explain
Except the language
Of tears and laughter
Even the molecules
Of my body
Shake and tremble
With awe and excitement!

I just can’t explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

Sometimes I forget
To say “Prophet” before your name
Not from heedlessness
But from desirous haste
To just say your name!
Muhammad, Muhammad, Muhammad!

I just can’t explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

Oh the mystery of how
You have captured my heart
As a Christian
I loved the Prophets
Before you
But with you
I get them all!
I can love
Abraham, Moses and Jesus
Just by loving you!
Without this love
Your nation falls
With it
They are purified and irresistible!
Let those who
Possess this love
Not be stingy
Take it to the marketplace!
The workplace
And especially the home

It’s hard to explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

Seeing the land of your life
Causes some to live
And seeing your grave
Causes some to die
Nothing is more difficult
Than you

In my youth
I have written easily
My love for many
But when I encountered you
The translator of my heart
Fell mute
Lost in inexplicable wonder!

That is hard to explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

You sacrificed for me
Before I was even born
How should I thank you
As I now walk upon the earth?
My heart holds your love
My tongue sends you blessings
But it is my limbs
That often fall short
All this controversy about you
A proof of the veil
On the hearts of your enemies
And a proof against those
Who only follow you with words
But don’t turn your face from me
As I reach for a drink
From your soft hands

Because it’s hard to explain!
Oh Messenger of God!
I can’t explain you!

I heard one of my teachers say that upon the poet is to write about the Messenger of God, may His peace and blessings be upon him. As a person who often writes things in a form that some call poetry, I have been haunted by the weight of this statement since hearing it!
I converted to the way of life called “Islam” because of an overwhelming sense of the divine origin and authority of the Quran and after a mere glimpse at the life of the Prophet Muhammad, may His peace and blessings be upon him.
So the feeling of love and debt is immense – yet every time I have tried to write something about him… I get stuck! I just sit there frozen with my pen hovering over a piece of paper that ultimately is left blank!
Then, one of my closest companions sent me a link to a YouTube video about the “Mahabbah Awards” which is a unique awards program done in the spirit of love for God and His Messenger.
Unexpectedly, this short and simple video clip opened a flash-flood of emotions and tears within me that I could not control or contain! I jumped up from my chair to try and regain my composure but felt a rumble inside like someone was boiling water in my chest! My knees started to buckle so I sat back down and felt a pressure in my head and heat in my heart that I knew from experience would lead to words!
“Finally!” I said to myself, I have a chance to say something about this amazing Messenger! I quickly grabbed my pen and an orange Post-it notes pad and started to scribble as fast as I could, the English translation of this stream of consciousness and love.
May the Giver of Gifts gift us with loving His beloved more than our own selves.

From the book, Ash-Shifa’ of Qadi ‘Iyad…
Anas said that a man came to the Prophet and asked, “When will the Last Hour come, Messenger of God?” He said, “What have you prepared for it?” He said, “I have not prepared a lot of prayer or fasting or charity for it, but I love God and His Messenger.” The Prophet said, “You will be with the one you love.” (al-Bukhari)

It is related that a woman said to A’isha (may Allah be pleased with her), “Show me the grave of the Messenger of God.” She showed it to her and the woman wept until she died.

Originally posted here on Sidi Haroon’s blog.

Recited in commemoration of the Prophet’s birth here: http://islamcrunch.com/archives/bay-area-mawlid-2009/

This year’s Bay Area Mawlid has been finalized. We are blessed to have Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Tahir Anwar and rising nasheed superstar Nader Khan from Canada participating in this year’s event.

Date: Sunday, March 8, 2009

Time: 5:00pm

Venue: Chandni Restaurant, Newark, CA

Tickets: $20 available online

Contact: mawlidconference@gmail.com or 510.744.3692

For centuries, the vast majority of Muslims have gathered in celebration of one of the greatest events in the history of the entire universe, the Mawlid or the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam). Through the recitation of the Majestic Quran, readings from the Seerah (Prophet’s biography), and the recitation of the Qasidah Burdah (Poem of the Cloak) we have the opportunity to show our gratitude to Allah ta’ala for having sent amongst us His final and last Messenger.

Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says, “Verily Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam). O, Believers! Send blessings upon him and salute him with a worthy salutation.” (33:56)

Taking heed of this incredible verse, Muslims send their blessings upon the Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam) every day. And each year, on this special day, communities in every corner of the world come together to commemorate the miracle of his birth, the legacy of his life, and the station of perfection that he alone occupies in this world and the next(may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Join us in celebrating the Mawlid of our Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam) in renewal of our faith and commitment to the way of our beloved Prophet (sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam) and his heirs, the rightly-guided scholars of the past and the present. We look forward to your presence with our scholars and friends in a night filled with inspiration and continuous praise!