“You have in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful example for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day, and who remembers Allah often.” (Quran 33:21)
The path of Islam and the way to Islam are marked and paved by the testimony of faith (Shahada): that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. Our Shahada consists of two parts.
By uttering the first part of the Shahada, a believer expresses both negation and affirmation.
Through negation, they reject the acceptance of other deities, and through affirmation, they declare and manifest that the Exalted Allah is One—not as a numerical count but as the One who has no partner, who neither begets nor is begotten, and to whom nothing is equal. Allah is eternal and everlasting, possessing the most beautiful names (Asma’ul Husna), attributes of essence (Sifat Zatiyya), and attributes of perfection (Sifat Subutiyya).
By uttering the first part of the Shahada, the believer cloaks their faith and confirms that:
- Allah Almighty (Rabbul-‘Alamin), the Lord of the worlds, governs all creation (Tawhid ar-Rububiyya).
- “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help”—worship is directed solely to Him (Tawhid al-Uluhiyya).
- “To Allah belong the most beautiful names”—His attributes of perfection and beautiful names are not attributed to any creation (Tawhid al-Asma’ wa Sifat).
By uttering the second part of the Shahada, we believe and testify that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is Allah’s servant and messenger.
Prophethood is a divine gift. It cannot be acquired or inherited. Allah grants it to whomever He wills. “Allah knows best to whom He will assign His message.” (Quran 22:75) Allah selects messengers from among people as bearers of glad tidings. Messengers are a sign of Allah’s mercy and human need. Their duty is to truthfully and faithfully convey the task assigned by Allah. Their qualities, virtues, and values make them recognizable in their communities. Prophethood and mission are entrusted to the most prepared and chosen servants of Allah. Their task is to teach and warn people, regardless of the challenges and difficulties they face.
We believe in all the messengers and make no distinction among them. We believe they were preserved from sin, were truthful, conveyed the true faith to people, and were mentally and intellectually gifted. In their missions, the prophets received revelation, scriptures, or scrolls from Allah.
The Last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): Context and Society
The last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in Mecca in the month of Rabi’ al-Awwal, in the Year of the Elephant. Muslims around the world, including those in Bosnia and Herzegovina, observe this month as the month of Mawlid—the celebration of the Prophet’s birth. He is Muhammad, the praised one; Ahmad, the acclaimed one; and Mustafa, the chosen one—the seal of the prophets. Allah says He sent him as a mercy to all worlds. We believe this, and that is why we follow him. We recognize that the validity of the first part of the Shahada is contingent upon the acknowledgment and acceptance of the second part.
Historical sources state that before the advent of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the social and cultural environment of the pre-Islamic Arabs was chaotic, marked by disorder. More than five centuries after the Prophet Isa (peace be upon him), society lacked universal values, and people were lost in time and space. Society reflected a system of injustice, immorality, violence, broken family ties, disorder, robbery, usury (interest), and infanticide, particularly the killing of female infants. The strong ruled over the weak, and disbelief (kufr) and polytheism (shirk) dominated the social structure. People indulged in games, entertainment, immorality, lying, gambling, fortune-telling, and other vices. This highlighted the urgent need for a Prophet to emerge. The coming of the Prophet and the necessity of his mission reflect Allah’s mercy on Earth.
When the Prophet was born, authentic traditions report that a new star appeared in the sky. Just as stars illuminate the darkness of the night, prophets illuminate the darkness of disbelief on Earth.
The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
The Quran mentions the names of other prophets and confirms they were sent to their nations, but for Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Quran states: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” (Quran 48:29) It also confirms that he was sent to all humanity: “We have not sent you but as a mercy to all the worlds.” (Quran 21:107)
The Prophet’s practice (Sunnah) is the second source of Islamic law. Without the Sunnah, many of the Quranic commandments, such as performing prayer, giving zakat, performing Hajj, conducting halal trade, and establishing marriage, cannot be fully understood or practiced.
Unity of the Ummah and Islamic Tradition
The Prophet emphasized the importance of unity among Muslims and institutional organization. He appointed representatives like Mu’adh ibn Jabal to Yemen and Abu Bakr as the leader of prayers and the Hajj. Unity and community organization were key aspects of his mission.
Mawlid Celebrations as Tradition
Although Mawlid is a poetic composition with literary and artistic dimensions, it is considered a devotional work by many believers. Through it, the life, mission, and character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) are described with love, emotion, and poetic imagination. Scholars and imams have the opportunity during Mawlid celebrations to educate and inspire believers, highlighting the Prophet’s noble character and mission.
“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, send blessings upon him and greet him with peace.” (Quran 33:56)
May Allah make us worthy of the intercession of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Ameen.
Notice: Traditional Annual Iftar
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) teaches us in a hadith:
“Whoever provides iftar to a fasting person will have a reward like theirs, without reducing the reward of the fasting person in the slightest.”
On Friday, March 22, BKIC will host the traditional annual iftar at South Jalna Community Centre, located at 1119 Jalna Blvd, starting at 6:00 PM. Doors will open at 5:00 PM for preparations. Everyone is welcome with their families and friends.