The Eid of Milaad - The Religion of Islam and the Shari’at of Muhammad

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

إِنَّمَا أَنتَ مُنذِرٌوَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ

'You are a munzir (one who warns of the consequences of kufur) and for every people and every age there is a guide.'

(Surat al-Ra’d: 7)

This article was written by Ra'sul Hududil Mayameen Janab Syedi Aziz Bhaisaheb Qutbuddin in 2014.

On the 12^th of Rabiul Awwal we celebrate the Milad of our Peghambar, the leader of all Anbiyaa’s and Prophets, Muhammad Rasulullah SA. In the span of 23 years, Rasulullah achieved the impossible task of establishing the norms and stipulations of Shari’at, while also establishing the Islamic polity. The Shari’at of Islam is comprised of not only liturgy and rituals for prayer, but it is also a way of life. One of the main purposes of Shari’at is to guide and direct our temporal actions such as marriage, inheritance, work ethics, contracts etc. Shari’at is still applicable today 1400 years after the Hijrat, and its scope is vast. It is truly a remarkable achievement, especially considering that Rasulullah SA accomplished it in only 23 years. As we celebrate Milad-un-nabi we recognize the greatness of our Prophet and offer thanks for the path of Shari’at that he showed us. Shar’iat is the path to paradise.

In the ayat quoted above, the Quran addresses Rasulullah SA, “you are a munzir (one who warns of the consequences of not believing) and for every people and every age there is a guide.” Because there are many interpretations of the Shari’at, it is important that there is a successor to Rasulullah in every day and age to who we can ask questions, just as those contemporary to Rasulullah SA were able to ask him. During the Imam’s seclusion, the Dai al-Mutlaq guides Mumineen towards Shari’at and enables mumineen to follow its path in an ever-changing world. The 52 Dai-s have guided mumineen through the ages and today the 53^rd Dai Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin TUS continues their legacy. In Ramadan last year Syedna Qutbuddin TUS guided mumineen as to how to calculate zakaat as per the stipulations of Shari’at in today’s financial environment (see zakaat calculation section). Shari’at applies to various aspects of our lives, throughout our life. Living our life as per the norms of Shari’at ensures that even our worldly actions (business dealings, eating, family relations etc.) garner sawaab and divine grace.

Rasulullah SA prescribed Shari’at so that it is forgiving and accommodating. To enable mumineen to live by these norms Syedna TUS has granted raza Mubarak for the Sabaq series entitled “From the Cradle to the Grave” which will discuss the philosophy and norms of Shari’at and how we can apply them to our lives in today’s world. The sabaq will also discuss the ethical values that Rasulullah SA and our hudaat established. As detailed in the section below, the sabaq will be broadcast every so often in parts. The introduction to the series was published this week. We hope that mumineen will take this opportunity to learn about our deen and Shari’at in order to better their lives, livelihood and character.

On the occasion of Milad un Nabi, we also remember the massive challenge that Rasulullah SA faced in the initial years of the Islamic Da’wat and the verbal and physical abuse that he and his early followers faced at the hand of Quraysh. Yet, even in these times, he continued to guide his followers and establish the religion of Islam. Rasulullah’s SA Dai establishes the Dawat of Haqq today with the same conviction. On this occasion, let us take inspiration from the Rasulullah’s early followers and remain steadfast in our conviction, belief and practice.