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ur Prophet (S) is too great, and his image and reputation even are too great, to be at all affected by the few years back
controversy over the cartoons. It is heartening to see that love for him (S) is alive and well, that there are some things Muslims just won’t stand for…because unfortunately lately we’ve put up with a lot of oppression and injustice, without doing anything about it.
So we should be glad that hopefully this has woken some of us up, re-awakened our feelings for the Prophet (SAW).
But true love is not something shown only on occasions like this. The reaction of some Muslims reminds one of a teenager who punches out some bully at school for insulting his mom, but who himself, on a daily basis, disobeys and disrespects his Mom.
How many people who are upset today about the cartoons don’t actually even pray Fajr on time? How many who are angry about the cartoons continue to do things they know are against what the Prophet(S) wanted for them – \continue to entertain relationships with the opposite sex, talk about who’s hot and who’s not…act nothing like his followers, most of the time.
And yet, we claim to love him(S).
It’s almost Valentine’s Day so let me ask: would any wife appreciate being given a huge bouquet on Valentine’s Day and being ignored the rest of the year?
Would any husband appreciate being given a box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day, and ignored the rest of the year? For that matter, would any mother appreciate being given a card and gift, even a diamond ring, on
Mother’s Day, and forgotten the rest of the year?
In a marriage, you are expected to be true to the person you marry, in good time and bad times, when it’s easy…and when it’s hard – and not just on Valentine’s Day.
After all, you’ve heard many times, the bride and groom being asked:
“Do you take this person to be your wedded [husband/wife] to live together in marriage?
Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep [him/her]
For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health.
And forsaking all others,be faithful only to him/her till death do you part?”
To which they answer: “I do.” (This is a Medieval European tradition – to utter these vows). These vows are beautiful, if only people in the west actually kept to them. But we find, even in relationships between men and women, there is not much loyalty anymore…even though everyone is
obsessed with the relationship between men and women, they still haven’t figured out that love is not in diamond rings and heart-shaped balloons.
Love is in the small things, the daily things, the everyday. True love is in every action, not just the great, but the tiny too, moment after moment, sacrifice after sacrifice. At first it is hard, then once love actually enters the heart, whatever was hard becomes easy And at that point, the Beloved permeates every corner of one’s life, every cell sings his name….
That is love.
Let us turn to an even more important relationship, the one you should have with the Beloved Prophet (S), the topic of all this controversy. Shouldn’t your relationship with the Prophet (S) be even more valuable to you than any other?
Well, the early Sahabas took vows to the Prophet (S) to declare their loyalty.
The Pledge, the Oath, (Bay’a) that 12 early Muslims took declared their allegiance to the Prophet (S):
We shall not associate anyone with Allah (The One God): whether in worship, His attributes, His power or His authority. We shall not indulge in adultery, fornication, and practice or propagate any other indecency. We shall not steal or rob anyone We shall not practice the custom of killing children.
We shall not falsely accuse or backbite anyone. We shall not disobey you in good deeds and just cause. We shall always follow you, be it hard or easy, to our liking or not, and we shall act according to your commands. We shall follow and obey your decisions even if it be against ourselves and in favor of others. We shall not participate in opposing the deserving persons of authority or positions.
We shall support the truth and justice and stand firm under all circumstances.
In matters of Allah’s religion,we shall not be afraid for our name, disrepute, disgrace, or blame. One of the Companions who got to be part of that pledge said: “I witnessed the night of Al-’Aqaba (pledge) with Allah’s Apostle when we pledged for Islam, and I would not exchange it for the Battle of Badr although the Battle of Badr is more popular amongst the people than it (i.e. Al-’Aqaba pledge).”The Battle of Badr is certainly the most famous battle fought by the early Muslims, and was one the Muslims had a great victory in; even though they were far outnumbered, Allah sent Angels to help the Muslims…but here this Companion (R) is saying how dear the pledge was…and what a great honor it was to take it….We too can take that pledge, in our hearts….
