Becoming Worthy of Following the Prophet, PBUH

The Most Merciful has commanded His believing servants to remember Him often and to glorify Him morning and evening: “O believers! Remember Allah often, and glorify Him morning and evening. He is the One Who blesses you, and His angels pray for you, so that He may bring you out of darkness and into light. And He is ever Merciful to the believers.” (33:41–43). This command represents the essence of the message, the ultimate purpose of Allah’s will, and the core subject of the Quran. Through this remembrance, the servant cultivates and enriches the self through Allah Almighty, becoming one who continually turns back to Allah in every circumstance—seeing His gentleness, generosity, and grace in every movement and moment of stillness.

When the light of faith enters the heart, it expands and opens. Remembrance preserves this openness and illumination, dispelling the darkness settled within the heart. Though the soul knows that only the remembrance of Allah can bring it soundness, security, and tranquility, it is fashioned with a tendency toward rebellion. Unable to remain without satisfying its desires, it attaches itself to every caller and clings to every passing temptation that makes those desires appear alluring.

This is because worldly pleasures are readily within reach: they awaken desire and offer immediate satisfaction. Yet they are fleeting, leaving behind an emptiness marked by boredom and distress. The enduring joy sought by one who desires the Hereafter and strives for it as it deserves, however, is surrounded by hardship and difficulty. The soul therefore does not naturally incline toward it; rather, it tends to turn away.

Thus, one comes to understand that, in this state, the self is one’s most hostile enemy, as the reported saying states: “Your most hostile enemy is your own self, which lies between your two sides.” Nothing can generate in the heart the strength to turn away from the adornments of this world and develop a firm resolve to struggle against them except by cultivating Dhikr (remembrance) to its fullest extent.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Press on—this is (mountain) Jumdan. The solitary ones (Al-Mufarridun) have gone ahead.” They asked, “Who are the solitary ones?” He replied: “Those men and women who remember Allah abundantly.”

Such Dhikr prepares a person to follow the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as he ought to be followed, and to be among those who follow him with excellence. Dhikr is therefore the key to becoming fit for the path of following the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah abundantly.” (33:21)

The aim of following the Prophet is to build and cultivate the self through Allah. Allah becomes the source and foundation of one’s actions; one remains conscious of Him while carrying them out; and one’s ultimate aim is to attain His pleasure. This rests on the conviction that one exists through Allah, that every gift received comes from Allah, and that whatever is withheld also comes from Allah.

When one recognizes that Allah, Exalted is He, sends blessings upon the believers and that His angels pray for them as well, one comes to see that withholding can itself be a form of giving. Conversely, when worldly provision comes while one is turning away from Dhikr, it may be more truly a form of deprivation than a gift.

If one remains steadfast in Dhikr and strives to join the Mufarridun—those wholly devoted to the remembrance of Allah—one will witness a remarkable transformation within. This was the state of the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them: the more severe and difficult their circumstances became, the more they increased in faith and submission. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Those to whom people said, ‘Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them,’ only increased them in faith, and they said, ‘Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.’” (3:173) Likewise, Allah, Exalted is He, says in Surah Al-Ahzab: “And when the believers saw the confederates, they said, ‘This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth.’ And it only increased them in faith and submission.” (33:22)

Through Dhikr, one attains the wonder of faith. Its essence and perfection lie at the heart of the Quranic message and are embodied in the person of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The light in his heart corresponded fully to the light of the Quran. Thus, when Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, was asked about the character of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, she said: “His character was the Quran.”

There is no path to guidance except through following him. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “And follow him so that you may be rightly guided.” (7:158)

This requires an understanding of the true nature of the light of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. That light was manifested in the perfection of his servitude to Allah: the perfection of his submission; his seeking refuge in and holding fast to his Lord; the perfection of his turning to Allah; his adab toward Him; and his longing for Him.

In this way, one comes to understand what it truly means to follow the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: to honor him and embody his example in pursuit of success. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “So those who believe in him, honor him, support him, and follow the light sent down with him—it is they who will be successful.” (7:157)

That is, one must understand the meanings of the source from which these lights emanate so as to embody and adorn oneself with them. Among the manifestations of the Prophet’s perfect servitude to Allah was what took place at Badr, when he earnestly supplicated his Lord: “O my Lord, if this group is destroyed, You will never again be worshipped on earth.”

Among the manifestations of his perfect submission and humility before his Lord was his supplication on the day of Ta'if: “If You are not angry with me, then I do not care; yet Your protection is more expansive for me.”

Among the manifestations of his perfect reliance upon and holding fast to his Lord was his saying: “Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us.” (9:40)

Among the manifestations of his continual turning to Allah was his saying, peace and blessings be upon him: “Indeed, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him one hundred times each day.” To preserve the perfection of the servitude of His servant Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, Allah, Exalted is He, commanded him: “And remember your Lord within yourself, with humility and awe, without raising your voice, morning and evening, and do not be among the heedless.” (7:205)

Among the manifestations of his perfect adab is the saying of Allah, Exalted is He: “The sight did not waver, nor did it overreach.” (53:17). At Sidrat al-Muntaha, the Lote Tree at the furthest boundary, beside which lies Jannat al-Ma'wa, the Garden of Eternal Residence, he did not allow his gaze to go beyond what he had been permitted to see. This was the perfection of adab.

Among the manifestations of his perfect longing for Allah was what occurred during his final illness, when he was given the choice between remaining in this world and meeting the Highest Companion. He said: “Rather, the Highest Companion.”

Thus, drawing from the light of the Messenger’s servitude to Allah is the key to cultivating the self and a sign of love for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.

With the coming of the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace and blessings be upon him, rather than becoming preoccupied with whether commemorating it is legislated, one should take the occasion as an opportunity for self-reflection and ask: Am I truly worthy of being among his followers, peace and blessings be upon him? Have I ensured that the best of humankind will recognize me on the Day of Resurrection? Have I ensured that I am among his brothers and sisters—those who believed in him without having seen him?

Strive, then, to attain the rank of the Mufarridun—those who remember Allah abundantly—so that you may become worthy of following him. Then devote yourself wholeheartedly to cultivating the self through Allah, so that you may live within the sphere of Allah’s pleasure.

How can one attain this rank?

First, by remembering Allah in every circumstance. The evidence is in the saying of Allah, Exalted is He: “Men who are not distracted—either by buying or selling—from Allah’s remembrance, or from performing prayer and paying alms-tax. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will tremble.” (Al-Nur 24:37) Allah, Exalted is He, also says of those who fought alongside their prophets: “And their only words were: ‘Our Lord, forgive us our sins and our excesses in our affairs, make our feet firm, and grant us victory over the disbelieving people.’” (3:147)

Second, by having a heart that trembles at the remembrance of Allah. The heart trembles at His mere mention, out of magnification of His majesty, reverence and awe for Him, humility before Him, and awareness of one’s own insignificance. It is also a response to the Generous Bestower, who has made Himself known to His servant and permitted them to remember Him.

If one reflects on the people of this world, one will find many who revere and exalt others just like themselves. It is related in an early saying: “Whoever humbles themself before a wealthy person because of that person’s wealth has lost two-thirds of their religion.” How, then, can one fail to revere one’s Lord or have the heart tremble at His remembrance? Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Do you fear them? Allah is more worthy of your fear, if you are truly believers.” (9:13)

Whoever does not attain this rank is barred from joining those who follow the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with excellence!