عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال من صلى علي واحدة صلى الله عليه عشرا ومن صلى علي عشرا صلى الله عليه مائة و من صلى علي مائة صلى الله عليه الفا و من زاد صبابة و شوقا كنت له شفيعا و شهيدا يوم القيامة (القول البديع ص236)
Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reports that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Whoever recites durood on me once, on him Allah Ta’ala sends ten blessings. Whosoever recites durood on me ten times, on him Allah Ta’ala sends one hundred blessings. Whosoever recites durood on me one hundred times, on him Allah Ta’ala sends thousand blessings. And whoever recites more with love and enthusiasm, I will intercede and testify for him on the day of Qiyamah.
(The Gift of Durood and Salaam pg.50)
Cleaning the Blessed Raudhah with His Beard
In the year 548 Hijri, a loud sound was heard from within the blessed chamber of the Raudhah. It was as if something had broken and fallen to the ground. Investigations revealed that a section of the eastern wall had collapsed onto the grave. It was now necessary to clean the area out. A pious resident of Madinah Munawwarah by the name of Umar al-Nasai al-Musali رحمه الله was chosen for this task. His piety was such that for 40 years, he had fasted during the day and worshipped during the night. When he was approached and commissioned with the task, he said, “I do not consider myself worthy of this important task. I will first need to prepare myself for this.” So, he stopped all food and drink for a number of days. He also began reciting abundant salaat and salaam upon Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم and other forms of dhikr to spiritually purify himself. When the time came to clean the area, people lowered him into the blessed chamber using ropes. He then used his beard (and not a broom) to clean away the debris that was present. (Golden Pages From Madinah Munawwarah pg.29)
Hujjatul Islam, Moulana Qasim Nanotwi’s رحمه الله Love for Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم
When Hujjatul Islam, Moulana Qasim Nanotwi رحمه الله went for Hajj, he could not bear to wear shoes in the city of his beloved. His companion in the journey, Hakeem Mansoor Ali Khan said regarding Moulana رحمه الله, “As our caravan came closer to Madinah Munawwarah from where we could see the Raudhah, Moulana رحمه الله removed his shoes, placed them under his arms and began walking barefoot. In this way, he eventually reached the Haram in the darkness of the night barefooted.” Moulana Madani رحمه الله writes regarding this journey, “Moulana Nanotwi رحمه الله did not mount a camel for a few manzils, whereas his conveyance was present and moving about with none riding it. Moulana’s feet were injured, thorns pricked him. Blood began flowing from his feet as he knocked into stones. All of this was borne as Moulana رحمه الله felt, “How could Qasim Nanotwi walk with shoes on that ground upon which the beloved of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله treaded.” Moulana Madani رحمه الله has written in Shihaabun Thaaqib that in Nanota, green leather shoes were fancied by people. People used to wear these shoes to functions. One devotee presented these shoes to Moulana Nanotwi رحمه الله. To satisfy him, Moulana رحمه الله accepted this gift, but did not wear it. After some time had passed, someone asked him, “Moulana, why do you not where these shoes?” He replied, “How is it possible that the Raudhah Aqdas of my beloved is green, and Qasim Nanotwi places green shoes on his feet?” (spirituallight.co.za)
Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz’s رحمه الله Love for Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم
Shaikhul Hadith, Hazrat Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Sahib رحمه الله writes: “Umar bin Abdul Aziz رحمه الله was one of the very righteous rulers of Islam, and a very famous and extremely high placed Tabi’ee. He used to reside in Syria (Damascus was the capital of the Umayyad empire). Such was his love for Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم that he used to despatch a messenger from Syria (to travel the vast distance across the harsh desert) to Madinah Munawwarah for the specific aim of reciting Salaat to Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم on his behalf at his grave.” (Fazaail Durood pg.147)
Reflections We learn from this example of the values we need to identify within our lives. Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz رحمه الله used his wealth to convey Salaat at the blessed Rawdhah of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم. We thus need to ask ourselves as to what values we have in our hearts with regard to our Noble Master صلى الله عليه وسلم. Do we love what he loves?
Our Ahlullah have identified the following as being the rights of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم upon us;
- Love for Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم
- Respect for Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم
- Obedience to Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم (to emulate his blessed Sunnah)
- Being excessive in Durood Shareef upon Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم
May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله grant us the tawfeeq to make the correct choices in our lives. آمين
يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ دَائِمَاً أَبَدًا عَلَى حَبِيْبِكَ خَيْرِ الْخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ
“O Sustainer, shower Salaat and Salaam forever and ever upon Your beloved, who is the best of all creation.”
جَزَی اللهُ عَنَّا نَبِيَّنَا مُحَمَّدًا صَلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْه وسَلَّمَ بِمَا هُوَ أَھْلُهُ
May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله reward our Nabi Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم on our behalf such a reward that is due to Him.