An enormous responsibility

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمَ دِينً۬ا‌ۚ
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed my favour upon you and have chosen (Am pleased with) Islam as your religion, your way of life”
(Surat Al-Maida verse 3)

Before we discuss this verse we will rewind to the time our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) received the wahy (revelation). In the cave of mount Hira, the Prophet (SAWS) was visited by Angel Jibreel (AS) and asked to “read” (Iqra). The prophet replied “I don’t know how to read”. With this the angel Jibreel (AS) hugged the Prophet so tight that he (SAWS) thought he was going to die. The Angel Jibreel (AS) again asked the Prophet (SAWS) to “read”, the prophet replied once more “I don’t know how to read”. With this the angel Jibreel (AS) hugged Prophet Muhammad so tight that he (SAWS) thought he was going to die. After the third command to read Jibreel (AS) recited the following verses from the Surat Al-Alaq.
(Enter verses)
Terrified by this experience, Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) rushed down the mountain to his wife Khadijah (RAA) and asked her to “Cover me”, she covered him with a blanket.
Days later Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was visited by Jibreel (AS) again and the following was revealed
يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلۡمُدَّثِّرُ- قُمۡ فَأَنذِرۡ
O you who are covered - Rise up and warn ...
​(Surat AlMudathir)

“O you, who are covered, get up and warn ….” with this his duty of Prophet began.
We know that Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was the final Prophet and messenger of Allah, the Imam of all the prophets. As Muslims we see this as a huge honour, which indeed it is. But do we appreciate the huge responsibility and pressures this would have brought to our beloved prophet? To know that none other will come after you and that the message will last till the day of Judgement.

All previous Prophets & Messengers prior to Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) knew that others would come after them, and indeed knew of the coming of Prophet Muhammad (SAWS). However for our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) he knew none would come after him (SAWS). As an orphan who could not read or write, this must have seemed a daunting task.
The Prophet (SAWS) spent every waking hour in Allah’s cause and in delivering the message of Islam. He answered every question, and when questions were not asked, he would ask his companions to which they would reply “Only Allah and his Messenger know”, he would then offer his answer. He demonstrated Islam in his actions and showed his approval or disapproval to those around him so they would understand this Deen better. All of this is his Sunnah (teachings)

During his farewell sermon the Prophet (SAWS) asked all who were present “Have I conveyed the message?” And they all answered “Yes, you have conveyed the message” He asked this three times and the answer was the same. During the sermon (Link) he re-iterated many of the teachings to ensure all present knew & understood.
None of us will ever face such an enormous responsibility; any tasks that we do not complete can always be finished by others.


ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أَكۡمَلۡتُ لَكُمۡ دِينَكُمۡ وَأَتۡمَمۡتُ عَلَيۡكُمۡ نِعۡمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلۡإِسۡلَـٰمَ دِينً۬ا‌ۚ
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed my favour upon you and have chosen (Am pleased with) Islam as your religion, your way of life”
(Surat Al-Maida verse 3)

This verse tell us the “on this day” i.e. this verse is time stamped if you like to the time of the Prophet (SAWS) emphasising that the Deen (Islam) was ”Perfected/Completed” at that time and anything after it is NOT from Islam. As Muslims we must adhere to all of the Quran command and follow as much of the Sunnah as possible. We must avoid Bid’ah (Innovations in the Deen), because by accepting Innovations you feel that the Deen was in need of it, and If it was in need of it, then Allah’s statement “I have completed…” would be false (May Allah protect us) . We must honour Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) because he deserves to be honoured and his efforts deserve to be honoured.

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