Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “No child is born but that he is upon natural instinct. His parents make him a Jew, or a Christian, or Magian. As an animal delivers a child with limbs intact, do you detect any flaws?” Then, Abu Huraira recited this verse of the Holy Quran:
“So be steadfast in faith in all uprightness ˹O Prophet˺—the natural Way of Allah which He has instilled in ˹all˺ people. Let there be no change in this creation of Allah. That is the Straight Way, but most people do not know.”
Chapter 30 (Surah Ar-Rum ) verse 30
This is the identity of every Muslim, which I will explain later.
Rahmatan lil’Alamin (provide grace to all mankind and all the universe)
According to Allah, each child is born with Allah’s fitrah (innate nature). It is the parents who have the power to alter the identity of that baby. But when a child is born and runs on Allah’s fitrah, reaching its apex, we refer to it as Rahmatan lil’Alamin.The question that can arise here is, “Oh, Rahmatan lil’Alamin is only Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him?” Yes, he is Rahmatan lil’Alamin, with no doubt. But why is he Rahmatan lil’Alamin? Because he was the one who fulfilled his life on Allah’s fitrah. He is the pillar, the apex point, the ideal. We live our lives according to the pillar that was formed by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Now you will understand how the companions of the prophet used to see him. Now you will understand how we got this title. Now you will understand why Allah is saying that we are the best nation. When this concept of Rahmatan lil’Alamin was forming, Allah said:
“Indeed, We offered the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they ˹all˺ declined to bear it, being fearful of it. But humanity assumed it, ˹for˺ they are truly wrongful ˹to themselves˺ and ignorant ˹of the consequences˺”
Chapter 33 (Surah Ar-Rum) verse 72
We are the ones who accepted the offer of Rahmatan lil’Alamin. Now you will understand why the trees were prostrating toProphet Muhammad when he was born. There lived in Yemen a man named Amer, who was praying with his wife before an idol. At the time of the birth of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), he saw a Noor (light) spreading light from East to West and from North to South. In this light he saw the gates of heaven open. Many angels descended, prostrating themselves. In this light he saw the trees and the hills also prostrating themselves. Then the idol in front of him fell on its face. As he went to lift the idol, it said:
“The Promised Prophet, whose coming was being looked forward to for hundreds of years, has just been born. The trees and the stones shall speak with him. For his sake the moon will split into two.” Ahsanul Muwa’iz)
This is what happens when a baby is born. He accepts the trust of the heavens and the earth and the mountains. That’s why the heavens and the earth and the mountains prostrate themselves before him. They say, “Okay, a Muslim is born; this Muslim is going to balance us.” This is the identity of the Muslim. This is the importance of the life of a Muslim. Now you will understand why Hazrat Sulaiman used to talk to ants. Because he knew he had the responsibility for everything. This is why our Prophet Muhammad has ordered us to plant trees even during a battle. Because he knew he had the responsibility for everything. When a Muslim completes his job, the whole system, this whole universe, puts his name in the highest standards. For example, the Throne of ALLAH shook on the death of Saad ibn Muaadh”. This is what happens when a Muslim dies. This is the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains. Angels come to carry the body. 70,000 angels, especially sent for the sake of attending and participating in the funeral of this man. Saad ibne Muaadh had been Muslim for just 9 years. Just 9 years. Meaning to say, it is not about the time you have been Muslim. It is not about the quantity; it is about the quality. Why? Because he completed his job, he fulfilled his promise. This is the Muslim identity. Just think for a moment: how many angels would come to welcome you? A Muslim is Rahmat for everything. The throne didn’t shake because of Rahmatan lil’Alamin. The throne shook because of Saad ibne Muaadh. Let me tell you another story to make this idea very clear. What happens when your purpose is clear? This happens:
Abdullah Bin Amru Bin Haram was the father of Jabir ibne Abdullah. Jabir ibne Abdullah had many sisters (some narrations say 7, some narrations say 9). So, there were just two men in the house. Therefore, they used to do this lottery system. Jabir ibne Abdullah got his name in the Battle of Badr, while Abdullah bin Amru bin Haram got his name in the Battle of Uhud. That’s how he ended up in the Battle of Ohad. Muslims lost in that battle, and many were martyred, including Abdullah bin Amru bin Haram. The Battle of Uhud was a very disturbing battle for Muslims because in this battle even Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, got physical injuries. When Muslim came back from Ohad, Jabir ibne Abdullah got extremely worried. Of course, now he was the only man in the house, and he had to take care of all the women. Talhah bin Khirash said:
“I heard Jabir bin ‘Abdullah say, ‘When ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr bin Haram was killed on the Day of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah met me and said, “O Jabir, shall I not tell you what Allah has said to your father?” Yahya said in his Hadith: “And he said, ‘O Jabir, why do I see you broken-hearted?’ I (Jabir) said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, my father has been martyred, and he has left behind dependents and debts.’ He said, ‘Shall I not give you the glad tidings of that with which Allah met your father?’ I said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said, ‘Allah never spoke to anyone except from behind a screen, but He spoke to your father directly, and He said, “O My slave! Ask something from me, and I shall give it to you.” He said, “O Lord, bring me back to life so that I may be killed in Your cause a second time.” The Lord, Glorified is He, said, “I have already decreed that they will not return to life.” He said, “My Lord, then convey this news to those whom I have left behind.” Allah said: “Think not of those as dead who are killed in the way of Allah. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision.” Sunan Ibn Majah 190
This is what happens when your purpose, when your identity, is clear. Again Abdullah Bin Amr Bin Haram was not Rahmatan lil’Alamin. He was a Muslim who lived his life in Allah’s fitrah.
Again Rahmatan lil’Alamin
On the day of judgment, when everyone would be given a rank. When the real identity of everything would be deciphered, then at that moment, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, would come and sit on the highest of the highest rank. Rahmatan lil’Alamin.
He will proceed on till he will hold the ring of the door (of Paradise), and then Allah will exalt him to Maqam Mahmud (the privilege of intercession, etc.). And all the people of the gathering will send their praises to Allah.
Sahih Bukhari, Book 24, Number 554
Our identity has been changed. Our purpose was to stabilize this universe, yes, the universe. But we have limited our purpose to only materialistic things of this mortal world. We think that he was a prophet. He could become Rahmatan lil’Alamin. Allah is not saying to become Rahmatan lil’Alamin; he knows we can’t. But He is telling us to at least give our best. To at least understand the promise that we had made.
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