Love for Muhammad (SAW) . . . are u sure?

I feel so blessed that in a young age, I developed an interest and tried to built a connection to Prophet SAW. In 7th grade I participated in first Naat competition and stood second. Then subsequently I stayed at the same path and my last participation was few years back when I was doing my masters and I stood first in girls/boys intercollegiate competition.

Well, In this journey I found some enlightening surprises, holding bitter but true manifesto of our society, encompassing some fabricated societal norms in the name of religion.

I know it’s not easy to write on such topics just like going to a no go area but I think it is not only necessary to pinpoint religion based societal dilemmas but also crucial for the survival of a whole belief system.

This Eid Millad un Nabi(SAW), you must have seen rallies, processions, milad mahafil, naat competitions, conferences, decorated lights,lanterns and at some places cake cutting ceremonies also…and many other expressions, in multiple ways one can afford and deliver.

You will surely agree that we all do this particularly to show our love, affirmation, devotion, homage, and respect to our prophet Muhammad (SAW)…… Am I right?? …. Of course … OK… fair enough .. Just a second Please pause..

Lets rethink .. Are we doing right? Our ways to pay our homage or to show our love is justifying the divinity and prodigiousness of Muhammad (SAW).??? Or is this the accurate way to celebrate the festivity on Prophet (SAW) date of birth???? Have you ever gave a thought that isn’t it more look like a cultural norm rather then a religious dogma?????

There is nothing wrong in the concept itself , of course, when we can celebrate our birthdays then why can’t we not for the ONE WHO IS THE SOLE REASON behind the existence of this world. But sadly, i must say, at the core of this joyousness lie the acts that daringly violate the sanctity of Prophethood – The Gloriousness of Muhammad SAW.

Allow me to share my own experiences, that urged me to write this…

Back in college days, the month of Rabiulawal was used to be very busy month. The whole month was already booked for Naat Khawans. After coming home from college, many aunties in my area used to take me to their homes for Milad. There I came across some strange experiences. To my surprise I found out there was everything in Milad except people’s devotion and sincerity. I know I can’t measure someone’s devotion, sincerity and intentions, it is something intangible but people actions speak very loudly. There used to be a detailed talking on brands offering 50% off ,there was a discussion on who had served maximum dishes on their milad, and which family offered some gifts too. It was more a sort of competition but I couldn’t figured out, on what. There was also a rather weird common practise of putting a covered bowl full of sugar in the centre of mahafil and at the end of milad, women used to have a look at sugar, they always claimed Prophet SAW name written on the it. I can still remember how sentimental and vehement I used to be after watching women with joyous cries to be among the blessed ones.

Trust me, countless times I have attended milad, I never ever saw any word written there, it left me completely apprehended. May be because I believe , you can see anything which you want to see. I might not wanted to see or believe. But still, Whenever I came back from milad my heart sank, I got dejected , I seriously used to think I am a true sinner and have the least faith that’s why I am not the blessed ones.

Another woman used to create a whole dramatic scene , putting off the lights, covering herself with a white veil and sitting on a higher stage made for herself with candles around, she used to give us sermons on milad.

Then I came to know about a lady who avowed to have a Hair of Prophet SAW and she declared assuredly that when she placed This in Milad , IT started swaying.

Are people so naive and innocent, or they lack true knowledge of Islamic teachings or this is a blind love and faith ?? Whatever it is, it has repercussions on the robustness of Islam and Muslims generally.

Like these, there are many personal experiences I came across that are truly sabotaging the inviolable sacredness of Muhammad SAW.

Another thing I want to share which literally made me speechless. There is a huge population who is creating Naats based on the composition of many Bollywood hit classical songs. Nothing could have hurt me this much and left me so awful and miserable than this act. One thing is the coincidence that composition can match, other thing is consciously writing the lyrics simply by changing the words of Bollywood songs. Now Naats are being composed (except few renowned Naat Khwans who have still maintained the sanctity) like some kind of pop music being played. Is this just an ordinary thing to praise Muhammad (SAW)?? or is it that easy to choose whatever words to hymn a praise to Nabi Masoom (SAW)….what sort of branded version of Islam is this???

Then lets talk about the rallies, with honkings of silencer free bikes, with loud Pop musical Naat bands, and cars with the simulation of Roza Rasool SAW roaming on roads . To my surprise rallies are being held on 11th also, along with 12th Rabiulawal. It gives me a feel of Sunnis competing shias 9th and 10th of Muharram rituals. Otherwise, I couldn’t see any propagation of Islamic preaching through rallies. If you justify it with the festivity alone, that you are so happy to have Muhammad SAW…then I wont argue. But keep in minds Islam does not allow any act that produces any kind of disturbance to others, blocked roads always created anxiety among masses, be they because of protocol , protests or anything whatsoever.

Let me tell you about Seerat (SAW) conferences held on 12th of Rabiulawal. This time their sole topic was Namoose Risalat(SAW) per Hum jaan bi luta dain gy..but do you know what indirectly their point was; sorry we can’t follow Your (SAW) given Islamic injunctions, we can’t practice your Sunnah, we can’t leave corrupt practices, we can’t tolerate people and minorities, we can’t be careful about giving rights to others, we can’t work on good moralities, we can’t incorporate the aspects of Seerat e pak (SAW), we can’t follow the principles on which the pillars of Islam stand, infact,we do not know the real essence of Islam- the divine principles based on moral obligations for a civilized society…..

….

but we are ready to die or to kill on Your (SAW) Name. (Namosse Risalat(SAW) per hum jaan bi luta dain gy)....

Again this is a basic tenant of being a Muslim and a Muslim should have love for Muhammad SAW more than his own life,wealth,and respect. So there is no point of debate. This is also impalpable. My point is that Seerat conferences should rather talk about Prophet SAW actions and devise ways to implement in this age of technological surge. They should talk more about Muhammad SAW message of good moralities, peace and tolerance which our nation has been profoundly deprived of.

We would love to debate for hours on sectarian based differences, But how much percent we are following our religion is meek. What our ulema is doing is another topic to discuss but i guess they have failed terribly(with exceptions, of course) to mend the society, they have not played their part well. Why Pakistanis are more corrupt then other nation, why we are more intolerant than other nations, why there is a scarcity of good moralities ..is still a question mark.

Lets just take a step forward. Pick up one aspect of Seerat -e- Pak (SAW) this Rabiul awal and try to follow in its true spirit, or atleast make a will or intention to incorporate one single trait of Seerat-e-pak SAW this year .

All glory, laud and honour to the Muhammad Mustafa (SAW).

One of my favourite Naats …

خوشبو ہے دو عالم میں تیری اے گُل چیدہ
کس منہ سے بیاں ہوں تیرے اوصاف حمیدہ

تُجھ سا کوئی آیا ہے نہ آئے گا جہاں میں
دیتا ہے گواہی یہی عالم کا جریدہ

مضمر تیری تقلید میں عالم کی بھلائی
میرا یہی ایماں ہے یہی میرا عقیدہ

اے رحمت عالم تیری یادوں کی بدولت
کس درجہ سکوں میں ہے میرا قلب تپیدہ

خیرات مجھے اپنی محبت کی عطا کر
آیا ہوں بڑی دور سے با دامان دریدہ

یوں دور ہوں تائب میں حریم نبویؐ سے
صحرا میں ہو جس طرح کوئی شاخ بریدہ

حفیظ تائب
Hafeez Taib