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Mercy Magazine
The World’s Thirst for the Prophet Mercy
Keynote Address by Imam Abdessalam Yassine
Translated by Farouk Bouasse, from the Arabic
1st North Dakota Islamic Conference, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2005 | Rabi’ al-Khayr, 07, 1426
I seek refuge with God from Satan the Evil One. In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful…
“Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of all creatures, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment, You (alone) we worship and You (alone) we ask for help. Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath and who go not astray.” Amen!
In the next few days, we’ll be celebrating the noble birthday of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (God bless him and grant him peace), an occasion for our souls to rejoice, a chance to revive the aspiration for a better future for the Muslim community worldwide – and for all mankind on earth.
A celebration of the Mercy of God that He – Exalted be He – sent to all creatures. God says in the Qur’an: “And We have not sent you but as a mercy to all creatures.” A happy commemoration and a holy day. A constantly revisited event that renews the hope and the suffering of all Muslims who see their brothers and sisters in Palestine and elsewhere being dispossessed, raped, and slaughtered.
Humanity is in desperate need of a compassionate hand that will rescue Man from his wretchedness, loss, and spiritual depravation. Mankind in this era, just as in any other era, needs to be reminded of – and awakened to – its eternal truth and worth. Humanity is ever in need of being reminded that it has a unique Creator Who commands to justice and excellence in worship (al-‘adl wa al-ihsan) – Who commands equality for Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
“Injustice shall manifest as darkness on the Day of Resurrection.” So said the merciful Prophet Muhammad (God bless him and grant him peace), whose birthday we’ll be celebrating in the next few days. He was sent as a mercy to all creatures in the sense that he came to remind Man of what is awaiting him after death, when he – and his deeds – will be exposed and judged by the Almighty. On the Day of Reckoning, he will be asked how much good he did in his life, how charitable and generous he was to the needy, or how abusive and unjust he was. He will have to account to God for all his acts, and so will all his fellow humans.
Man needs someone to address his innate nature – to awaken him from heedlessness and ignorance of his destiny after death. God created Man and sent him to the earth in order to test him – to see if he will disobey Him, wreak havoc and sow chaos, or engage in reform, nurse the wounds of the weak, and care for the wretched and the needy.
The Western civilization that has become so engrossed in materialism is in need of those who can convey to it the noble Message of the merciful Prophet (God bless him and grant him peace). God – Glorious is He – said: “I have forbidden injustice to Myself and made it forbidden amongst you; then do not act unjustly against each other.” So when we are being unjust, we are being disobedient to God, and therefore deserve the retribution that may befall us.
The Prophet’s Message also teaches us that human rights include the right of Man to know the purpose of his creation and what awaits him after death. Islam indeed provides answers to these essential questions. No esoteric or materialistic philosophy can elucidate for Man the mysteries of life, rescue him from his world’s hectic frenzy, and nurse his wounds.
We talked earlier of the painful wound in Palestine. In reality, the modern Man is also wounded. He suffers ignorance of his true worth and of the meaning of his existence. He is beguiled by the vanities of this world. His total immersion in restless activities (games, dancing, songs, movies, TV, etc…) leaves him no time to think of his soul and his destiny. Any such civilization that does not care for the ultimate destiny of its individuals and societies is bound to perish.
Islam teaches the human being how valuable he truly is. God – Glorified be He – says: “And We have honored the children of Adam.” O Man, God has honored you! It is for you to decide whether to live according to that honor, or to lead a bestial life in a jungle where the law of the jungle reigns supreme. O Man, turn to your Lord! But how?
I’ve been asked by the organizers of this forum to speak about as-Sohba (being in the company of a spiritual guide and a community of brothers and sisters in faith). In a few words, I would say that you have to find someone who would grasp your hand gently, yet firmly, and tell you: O Man you are heedless! O Man you are bound to meet your Lord! O Man there exists a Prophet by the name of Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets (God bless him and grant him peace), who came not to deny the earlier missions of his fellow brothers, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, Moses, and Jesus, but rather to confirm them and to complete the noble virtues that they taught.
The Prophet did more than merely carry the Message. He was the living personification of that message. That is why foreign observers notice how much the believers, men and women, strive to adhere to his model practice, follow his steps and draw from his model the characteristics of strength and compassion. That’s what as-Sohba is about: each generation informs the subsequent generation that there was a Messenger, a Mercy to all creatures. This holy Prophet entrusted to his Companions and to the subsequent generations his model practice and the Book he was sent with, the Holy Qur’ān. Have we read this Qur’ān? Do we know that it is the Word of our Creator? Have we celebrated it as it merits, or ignored it and cast it aside?
My talk to you will end and will soon be forgotten. This is precisely why you need companionship that will escort you to the Prophet’s Model Practice (sunna) and to the Book of your Gracious Lord; a tender hand that shakes you gently out of your sleep. That’s what as-Sohba is about. Our Prophet was not sent but as a mercy to all creatures. So let us be merciful, let us reject violence and invite people to God with gentleness and love. Love for mankind, gentleness to mankind, mercy upon mankind. May God save us from those who kill, burn, blow themselves up and shed innocent blood.
O Lord! Shed your grace and peace upon our beloved Prophet, his Family and Companions.
Glory to your Lord, the Lord of Honor and Power! Exalted is He above the things they ascribe to Him. All praise is due to God, the Lord and Cherisher of all creatures.
One Response to “The World’s Thirst for the Prophet Mercy”
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June 6, 2007 at 6:30 am
Ma sha’a Allah! This is a very nice speech. Both affecting and uplifting.
May Allah reward you for publishing these nice articles.
Amin