Every year the birthday of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) brings in its train thousands of blessings and mercies not only for the Muslims but for the whole world. The love and sincerity with which Muslims all over the world greet this day is immense, but is still short of what is really due on such an occasion because the day is the birthday of our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) - the greatest benefactor of humanity - guide of the whole world, and the one who gave fundamental laws to human life. If we scan the wide range of history we will come across great reformers, founders of religions and philosophic systems and great rulers and revolutionaries who changed the course of history.
But the common feature of all these is that while they influenced only one part of human life they left loopholes open for evils creeping into other aspects.
We do not find any movement or ideology which has transformed the whole nature of man, his entire being from within and without and his individuals as well as his community life. This is what our Prophet Muhammad (SAW) accomplished - the greatest gift and light in the prevailing darkness from "The Almighty Allah".
This transformation of man from within and without in his individual and social aspects, was unique in history and no such example can be found elsewhere. The transformation was such that human society from the mosque to the market, from the school to the court and from the home to the public field - the entire course of human life was changed, and as a result of this change, there was goodness and virtue without the least tinge of evil. In fact human life received a new base and the foundation was laid for all-round progress and a virtuous life on an international scale.
Records of the observation of the birthday of Prophet (peace be upon him) a holy day - the day was Monday 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal (571 A.D). From the moment when Islam began to bring the personality of Muhammad (SAW) within the sphere of the supernatural the scenes among which his earthly life had been passed began to assume a higher sanctity in the eyes of his followers.
There is no doubt that in showing love and devotion on this blessed day, people sometimes commit acts which are repugnant to the spirit of Islamic Sharia (law) and contrary to its sacred character. Prophets did not come to this dark world merely to communicate the word of God. The Holy Quran provides evidence that one of their important purposes was to make people obey and follow them and through such obedience attain the pleasure of God.
THE HOLY QURAN SAYS: "The Prophets we commissioned were ordained so that people may obey them and that is the will of God." The same point is elaborated in another way;
"Whosoever obeys the Prophet, (SAW) obeys God."
The nature of obedience has been explained. It must be sincere, submissive, satisfying and resigned if the mind falters in obedience to the Prophet, (SAW) it will amount to loss of faith in God.
As love for the Holy Prophet (SAW) inevitably implies obedience to him and without obedience love for him cannot be effective obedience to and love for the Holy Prophet (SAW) are inseparable. Islam does not demand apparent devotion; it requires also sentimental attachment to the Holy Prophet (SAW).
In the self-forgetfulness of love, people cross the limits within which one should stay-if-we are to attain true success and well being .It is also true that in expressing devotion people ignore the difference which marks the Islamic acts of devotion from the worshipfulness of other nations and it is sometimes felt that they have violated some restrictions which mark them off from other people .
In spite of these shortcomings the emotion which gives birth to this self -forgetfulness and extreme devotion is extremely charming and exciting. This emotion is the love which we bear for the Guide of the Universe, the path - Finder of the worlds and the unique leader of men and Jinn. This is not an expression of love for the one individual but of love for the well being of the entire humanity.
We love the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), we really show our attachment to this God-created universe. God selected Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the most suitable man for bringing about this great revolution. We all have to adopt him as our model and mould our lives accordingly - because his spiritual and moral level is supreme among the human beings. On the birthday of Holy Prophet (SAW) some people commit many mistakes.
People think that instead of condemning these mistakes born of love, our religious leaders should take advantage of this psychological situation and mould them to the ideal conduct of our Holy Prophet (SAW). People should be made aware of the fact that the pattern of conduct laid down by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) is the anchor which has preserved the ship of our community in the storms of the last 1400 years.
On the occasion of birthday of our Prophet (SAW) the nation is prepared psychologically to accept all the teachings and practical consequences of the prophetic pattern of conduct. Every individual is eager to know from the Ulema something about the perfect morals of the Holy Prophet (SAW). We should take advantage of this psychological state and adopt positive steps to fulfill the healthy urges of the people and guide them to the doctrines and teachings of our Holy Prophet (SAW).
Instead of taking advantage of this psychological state, the people having vested interest keep on involving them in sectarian controversies of the past and if they give some message to the people about the life of the Holy Prophet (SAW) that is far removed from the practical problems of their own lives. Such attitude will tantamount to losing a good opportunity by involving themselves in negative methods of approach.
It is our foremost and earnest duty and responsibility to preach the message of equality in order to unite the people against injustice and exploitation to convey to the common people everywhere the ideal conduct of the Holy Prophet (SAW).