Salam
A blessed Rabi al-Awwal Mubarak to visitors to the blog. I have posted a fair bit on the Mawlid and matters related to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give peace) on the blog which readers may refer to.
I wished to post the following from a Shaykh Yusuf al-Nabhani, a scholar who needs no introduction regarding his dedication to praise of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace). It is taken from his work Wasail al-Wusul p.8 onwards, and it relates to the benefits obtained from the mention of the noble Shamail, something which inshAllah many of us will be involved in during this month and the rest of our lives. Shaykh al-Nabhani said regarding the intended benefits from the compiling of his Shamail (Allah bless him and give him peace):
“The aim from the compiling of his Shamail (Allah bless him and give him peace) is not the mere historical knowledge which peoples selves incline towards and hearts are attracted to, and are mentioned in gatherings…Rather the aim from the compiling of his Shamail (Allah bless him and give him peace) are other important benefits in the religion.
From them [important benefits] is the feeling of delight in his lofty attributes and pleasing characteristics (Allah bless him and give him peace).
From them [important benefits] is drawing closer to him (Allah bless him and give him peace) and attaining his love and pleasure by making mention of his perfect attributes, and excellent character. Just as a poet draws closer to a generous one by making mention of his beautiful attributes and characteristics.
There is no doubt that the compiling of his Shamail (Allah bless him and give him peace) and the disseminating of them is superior and more perfect than praising him with odes (qasaid). This is even though he expressed his pleasure regarding those who praised him with them (qasaid) such as Hassan, Abdullah bin Rawaha and Kab bin Zuhayr (Allah be pleased with them all), and he rewarded them for this. Thus there is no doubt that he is pleased with those who are involved in the compiling of his Shamail and their dissemination (Allah bless him and give him peace). And from this is that we are attempting to respond to him (Allah bless him and give him peace) for his kindness towards us and his saving us from the darkness of misguidance to the lights of guidance and from perpetual wretchedness to everlasting felicity. This immense blessing cannot be equalled to and it is not possible to repay him for this except Allah (Most High)…
And from them [important benefits] is the knowledge of his Noble Shamail leads to love of him (Allah bless him and give him peace), because man is naturally disposed to love beautiful attributes and those who possess them. And there is nothing more beautiful and perfect than his attributes (Allah bless him and give him peace). There is no doubt that he who comes across them and his heart is not imprinted with misguidance will love the possessor of them (Allah bless him and give him peace). And by the increase and decrease of his love there will be an increase or decrease of faith (iman). Rather the pleasure of Allah (Most High) and everlasting felicity and pleasures of the people of paradise and their ranks with it, all of these will be in proportion to the increase and decrease of love a slave has for him (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Just as the wrath of Allah (Most High) and perpetual wretchedness, and punishment of the people of the fire and their drowning in it will be in proportion to their large or small amount of hatred of him (Allah bless him and give him peace).
And from them [important benefits] is obedience and following of him for the one whom Allah has given success in that which he is able to follow him in. Such as his generosity, forbearance, humility, zuhd, worship and other than them from his fine character traits and noble states (Allah bless him and give him peace). And this necessitates the love of Allah (Most High) which contains felicity in both worlds. He (Most High) said: ‘If you love Allah, then follow me and Allah will love you’.
May Allah make us from the followers of him (Allah bless him and give him peace) in his upright sacred law, and straight path, and gather us beneath his banner in the company of the people who love him (Upon him and them all blessings and peace).”