There are numerous reasons why Muslims must study the Seerah. The early Muslims taught the Seerah to their children as they taught them the Qur’ān because they realized it was central to understanding their religion. About fifty verses in the Qur’ān command the Muslims to know the Prophet, follow him, respect and obey him, support him, and send peace and blessings upon him. For instance, the Qur’ān says:
o “The Prophet is closer to the believers than themselves.”
o “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allāh, you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in Allāh and the Last Day and remembers Allāh much.”
o “He who obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allāh.”
o “Say, If you love God, follow me, and God will love you and forgive your sins. God is most forgiving and most merciful.”
Muslims cannot achieve the excellence of faith until they love the Prophet Muḥammad more than their ownselves. Therefore, the Prophet said, “None of you will be a true believer until I am more beloved to him than his children, his father, and all the people.”
Allāh mandates loving the Prophet more than oneself in several places in the Qur’ān, and the wisdom behind it is pretty evident. Without an abiding love (and allegiance) to the Prophet, believers would have defied his authority and, indirectly, Allāh’s. Muslims are indebted to the Prophet Muḥammad because he is their spiritual guide in this life and a source of salvation in the Hereafter.
Reflections: People of other faiths are not obligated to love the Prophet Muḥammad as Muslims do, but knowledge of Muslim sentiments toward the Prophet would help during interfaith dialogue. Drawing cartoons of the Prophet or insulting him hurts Muslims’ feelings. On the contrary, no Muslim will ever insult Jesus, whom the Qur’ān refers to as ‘Ēsa. Jesus and his mother, Mary, are towering figures in Islam, and the chapter in the Qur’ān called “Maryam” is named after Mary.
The Prophet once said, “I will be the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgment, without boasting.”
The Prophet has many honorary names and attributes, such as:
o Muḥammad and Aḥmad—These are his proper names. Muḥammad means “the praised one.” The Prophet Muḥammad is constantly praised worldwide by Muslims in their prayers. On Judgment Day, he will be praised by the entirety of humanity when he intercedes with Allāh (God) on behalf of the people. Aḥmad means “the one highly praised.” The Qur’ān tells us that Jesus referred to the Prophet Muḥammad by this name (in Aramaic) when he foretold the latter’s coming to his disciples. In Arabic, both Muḥammad and Aḥmad come from the same root word.
o He is Al-Māḥi, one who eradicates paganism. He wiped out paganism from the Arabian Peninsula during his 23-year prophetic mission.
o He is Al-Ḥāshir, “the gatherer” around whom people will assemble on Judgment Day.
o He is Al-ʿĀaqib, the last of God’s messengers and prophets.
o He is the Prophet of Mercy for all of humanity.
A Muslim is connected to the Prophet from the cradle to the grave. When a Muslim is born, someone calls the adhān (call to prayer) in the child’s right ear, which includes the statement, “I bear witness that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allāh.” The adhān for every mandatory prayer includes these words. Moreover, Muslim prayer is incomplete without invoking Allāh’s blessings on the Prophet and his family (upon them be peace). When people carry a deceased Muslim to the grave, they say, “BismiAllāh wa ‘Alā Sunnati Rasul Allāh” (in the name of Allāh and upon the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allāh) or “BismiAllāh wa ‘Alā Millati Rasul Allāh” (in the name of Allāh and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allāh). And finally, when angels question a Muslim in the grave, they ask them about the Prophet Muḥammad (unto him be peace).
The Prophet was highly concerned about his followers, which God thus confirms in the Qur’ān:
There has come to you a Messenger of your own. Your suffering distresses him: he is deeply concerned for your welfare and full of kindness and mercy towards the believers.
Once, the Prophet said to his Ṣaḥābah (Companions) that he wanted to meet with his brothers. Surprised, the Companions asked, “Are we not your brothers?”
“No,” he said, “my brothers are those who will come after me and believe in me without having seen me.” He prayed for his yet-to-come brothers in every ritual prayer and sought God’s forgiveness for them.
Muslims can revive his Sunnah and defend him against smears by studying his noble life.
A Muslim should study the Seerah to know the morals and manners of the Prophet, how he acted in peace and war, and how he interacted with his family and friends, the masses, and adversaries. The Prophet said that one of his greatest missions (besides conveying God’s message) was to perfect the people’s good manners. He promised, “The most beloved and nearest to me on the Day of Judgment will be one with the best character.”
Also, studying the life of the Prophet Muḥammad is essential for learning the Qur’ān. One cannot understand the text of the Qur’ān without the context of the Prophet’s Seerah, for God revealed many passages of the Holy Book in response to events that happened in his life or those of the people around him.
His was a miraculous life. He was born into a backward, tribal society that the Romans and the Persians held in low esteem. But within twenty-three years, he transformed the ‘Arab society into the world’s best and most progressive.
He is among the most celebrated of Allāh’s creations. The scriptures of previous nations praised him before he was born. He said, “Allāh had decreed me when Ādam (Adam) was between the mud and spirit.”
He is praised in the heavens by Allāh and His angels. Moreover, Allāh makes it an obligation for Muslims to invoke His peace and blessings upon the Prophet.
Indeed, Allāh confers blessing upon the Prophet and His angels (ask Him to do so). O you who have believed, ask (Allāh to confer) blessing upon him and salute him with a worthy salutation.
Why Muslims Must Study the Seerah
