By G .M. Shakir  (Advocate)

Love is the attraction, which draws a person towards another. This emerges by seeing elegance and grace in some person due to his physical beauty or spiritual heights. This is the sentiment in which a person wants his beloved always in sight and gets grieved when separated from him . This makes a person to remember his beloved day and night; and makes restless, treating wish of his beloved as the most respected order and to sacrifice ones life for it. This all is what we call love. The heart remembers him and tongue repeats his name and praises in highest possible words.

The reason of love are qualities of beloved but one must possess that mind and vision which will give him correct picture of a person. In case of blurred vision and perverted mind one will definitely fail to estimate the merit of another.. Similar, is the case of that ungrateful who does not love his parents and forgets what has been done by others for him and there is no love,in his heart for his parents, teachers and other benefactors.

Love in a natural sentiment which emerges differently in different circumstances. A kind of love is natural as a mother possess for her child. Even if she knows that the child will die within six months and cannot be her support in old age still she loves her child. This is natural. Then another kind of love is earned by one by doing good for others. For instance, the love for teacher. Similar is love for those who have been kind to us in any way.. At the same time love increases and decreases by the efforts of a person.

In light of above words ,the Prophet (S.A.W) is entitled to highest love. If we take natural love, we are supposed to have this for him. His place is of spiritual father. His wives have been declared mothers of the believers and thus believers were prohibited from marrying those. The Quran says “and his wives are (as) their mothers 33-6”. If we see his qualities of bodily nature or spiritual nature there had not been and can not be parallel to it. His face has been praised at that time by the poets who saw him. Abu Talib in his verse declared “ The man of bright and shining face by whose reference and sake the clouds are asked to pour the water, that who is sustainer of orphans as well as safety of honour, provider and protector of the widow ”. It was not only Abu Talib, Ummi Mabad ,who was not related to him also made mention of it. She praised him though not related. His handsomeness was narrated by famous poet Hassan bin Thabit (RA) “Eyes have not seen more handsome than you and women have not given birth to more handsome than you”. His truthfulness has been as argument by the Quran for those who did not except him as Prophet (S.A.W) “Say: "If Allah wanted otherwise, I would have not recited this (Qur'an) to you, nor would have made you aware of it. Indeed, a whole lifetime I lived among you before its revelation. Why you do not use your common-sense?10-16 ”. The said Hassan bin Thabit has said “You have been created free of all defects as if you have been created as you wished”. The Quran has upheld him in high esteem due to his morals in the following words “ And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character 68-4 ”. Such person is deserving to be loved above all.

Now what he gave to the humanity is more important. He gave life to daughters which were buried alive. This is only Islam which has restricted the number of wives, at a time to four. It gave her the property right. Right to get divorce was also granted to a lady. The respect for the slaves was raised to the extent that Khalifa Umar (RA) used to stand up the honor of Bilal (RA) and address him “ Syedi and moulayi”. The slave sons became the generals of army and the great and free personalities worked under his command. A free Quraish lady directed to marry Zaid (r.a) a slave thus practically taught the humanity that human being are equal and no differences are allowed on the bases of color, race or anything else except piety. He always came to rescue of poor people. He did not make any difference, while helping others, on the basis of religion, when they asked for the help.

The Prophet (SAW) was not a monk who gave up the world for achieving spiritual heights. He taught to live a life where in one gets good for this world and hereafter. He did not like to shun the world. Instead, he taught to earn the wealth but according to certain principles. He was not only an Imam but also commander of the forces in a manner which has no parallel in the history. A best judge and spiritual guide. Though most kind and generous, he never allowed injustice. Highly merciful but mercy never allowed him to make compromises with the principles. Basically peace loving but when war was thrust upon him he did not shirk it but when peace was offered he never miss it. Strict in doing the justice but forgiving in the case of his personal matters. He did not take revenge in the case of personal matters to the extent that those who did beat him and kept the tripe of the camel on his neck while he was in the prostration, boycotted his whole tribe and forced it to take the shelter in a ravine were not subjected to revenge. Forgave the person who killed his uncle and that person with whose blow his daughter could not recover till she left for the heaven. He did not, amass the wealth but lived a life of a poor person though he was offered money by his opponent for compromising with the movement and when he was head of the Islamic state. He prohibited the alms for himself and his future generation. Though he as well as his family had to pay the poor due compulsorily. However when finance was to be spent, he took lead in it.

He always wished that the people be saved from the wrath of Allah, so that they are not punished by him. He worried for the people day and night . The Quran in one verse depicts his nature in the following words “And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character. 68 -4”.he not only worried but made all efforts for achieving this object he had to suffer and face many difficulties for it. Had it been not working for this mission, there would have not been problems for him. He never became hopeless regarding his mission and had always the hope of success. He showed his disapproval when the children of the nonbelievers were killed in a battle. summing up, briefly the Quran explains his nature in the following words “We sent thee not but as a mercy for all creatures”.21-107. He also prayed for the people for their betterment as he has been directed to do so “…Take sadaqat (this commanded sadaqat means - Zakat-ul-Mall) from their wealth, so that they may thereby be cleansed and purified, and pray for them; for your prayer will give them comfort. Allah hears all and knows all. 9-1o3..”

Basically, in Islam, the love and respect is for the person who accepts and follows Islam in letter and spirit. The more a person is devoted to it the more love and respect he is entitled to.. Quran has time and again held that the basis of friendship and love must be the belief and act. It is evident that love must be for Allah and his messenger (SAW). In case the nearest relative is more loved than the Prophet (SAW) the love for them is not genuine. Now if love and respect is on the basis of Din the Prophet (SAW) must be loved above all things and relatives. The Koran warns those who love others more than a Allah and his messenger (SAW) of dire consequences “Say: If it be that your fathers your sons your brothers your mates or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline; or the dwellings in which ye delight are dearer to you than Allah or His apostle or the striving in his cause; then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious.9-24”

The Quran has also held that one must love the Prophet (SAW) more than any other person. The love and respect must be for him. No one should be more dear to Muslim than Prophet(SAW). Chapter Ahzab lays down “The Prophet is closer to the Believers than their own selves 33-6”.The love and respect for the Prophet seems necessary” We have truly sent thee as a witness as a bringer of Glad Tidings and as a Warner: In order that ye (o men) may believe in Allah and His Apostle that ye may assist and honor Him and celebrate his praises morning and evening.”48-8,9. The Hadith has also held that a Muslim must love Prophet (SAW) more than him self The Prophet SAW has said “ No one among you can be Muslim unless I am loved by him more than his father ,mother, offspring and all other people”. This in not for other but he must be loved more than our selves .The great rewards have been promised for those who love the Prophet (SAW).(continued)