Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Next Monday, we will observe Mawlid al-Nabi, marking the birth of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw), who was sent as a mercy to all the worlds. His birth was not only a joy for one family, it marked the beginning of a new hope for humanity. Humanity emerged from darkness into light, revelation once again met the earth and mercy reached all of humanity for the final time.

Our Prophet (saw) was sent at a time when people oppressed one another, power was considered right, women were regarded as worthless, children were buried alive and tribalism and racism divided society. Humanity was not deprived of material means, but of morality, justice and compassion. The Messenger of Allah (saw) introduced humanity to Allah, reminded people of their true worth and restored to the world the principles of justice, trust, compassion and brotherhood.

Allah (swt) says: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often.”[1]

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

Fourteen centuries have passed. Our technology has advanced, our cities have grown and access to knowledge has become easier. Yet humanity’s fundamental problems have not changed. Wars continue today, millions of people are displaced from their homes and hunger and poverty continue.

Family bonds are weakening, loneliness is increasing and the language of anger has become common.

We thought Abu Jahl had died, but he has not. In fact, he now travels across continents. For this reason, humanity today needs more than ever the life-giving breath of revelation and the mercy, justice and noble character embodied by the Prophet.

 

Dear Jama’ah!

It is a fact that no new prophet will come today. The greatest trusts left to humanity are the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Rasulullah (saw). Therefore, we must show our love for our Prophet not only through words, but through the way we live. A sound relationship with our Prophet is directly connected to the relationship we establish with the Qur’an. The Qur’an, the first trust he left us, was also the foundation of his character and personality. When Sa‘d ibn Hisham asked Aisha (ra), “O Mother of the Believers, tell me about the character of the Messenger of Allah,” she replied: “Do you not read the Qur’an? The character of the Messenger of Allah was the Qur’an.”[2]

Especially as Muslims living in countries where Muslims are a minority, we have a responsibility to represent Islam in the strongest and best possible way. People will often come to know our Prophet and our religion through us before they encounter them in books. For this reason, we must build a Muslim identity that speaks the language of our time, understands the challenges of the age and remains firmly committed to the principles of mercy embodied by our Prophet.

Mawlid al-Nabi is not only a night of celebration, it is a night to renew our devotion to the Messenger of Allah, rediscover him and renew our determination to convey his message of mercy to all humanity.

May Allah (swt) make us among those who hold firmly to the Qur’an, take the Messenger of Allah as their guide, embody his noble character and convey his message of mercy to humanity. May our Mawlid Night be blessed. Ameen.

[1] Surah Al-Ahzab, 33:21

[2] Ebû Dâvûd, Tatavvu, 26

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