THE PATH OF MUHAMMAD (At Tariqah Muhammadiyyah)

Front matter

The Path of Muhammad

A Book on Islamic Morals & Ethics

IMAM BIRGIVI

Contents

List of Illustrations viii

Foreword by Shaykh Abdul Mabud ix

Introduction by Vincent Cornell xiii

Foreword

“O Prophet—behold, We [Allah] have sent thee as a witness [to the truth], and as a herald of glad tidings and a Warner, and as one who summons [all men] to Allah by His leave, and as a light¬ giving beacon” (Qur’an 33:45-46).

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), the last and the greatest of Allah’s messengers said, “None of you has real faith unless I am dearer unto him than his father and his child and all mankind” (Bukhari and Muslim). An ostentatious affection for the blessed Prophet can do little to create an authentic affinity with him. Real love between us and the Prophet is established when we follow the actions of his life: actions that made his life truly the Last Messenger’s life and a life that is worthy of imitation for all people until the end of the world. Following the Prophet’s sunnah is to submit to Allah, and to efface one’s ego. In its comprehensive sense, sunnah is not just following the Prophet in one particular act, but adopting the way of the Prophet in the pursuit of meritorious acts and supererogatory practices and habits.

Al-Tariqah al-Muhammadiyyah of Imam Birgivi (r.a.), translated and interpreted by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak, has combined in itself the expositions of both the law ( sharVah ) and the way ( minhaj ) as exemplified in the life of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). Written in clear, lucid language and replete with verses from the Qur’an and hadith, this book presents Islam as practised by the Prophet. Through his interpretative translation, Shaykh Tosun Bayrak has indeed rendered a great service to those English-speaking readers who are interested in learning the essentials of Islamic faith and practices. It discusses the inner meaning of religious injunctions and how to purify our inner selves so as to gain closer proximity to Allah.

Allah created human beings pure and perfect, with no original sin. Sinners destroy this perfection with their own hands. Believers strive to preserve this perfection with their dedicated obedience. Ever since Adam (a.s.) received revelation from his Lord, human beings, over the genera¬ tions, have been guided through a chain of Divine Messages. The Qur’an revealed to the Prophet is the culmination and end of all prophetic revela¬ tions. For all humanity, Allah has ordained a law and a way in conformity with His universal divine plan. Our Prophet was sent down as the epitome of this plan, a human model that we should all aspire to. He was the imam of all the prophets during the night journey (mi raj) and was endowed with the unique honor of crossing the farthest limit of the realm of creation and of conversing with the Lord of the Worlds in the very presence of His Throne.

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The Prophet’s life shows that there is a supplication ( du‘a ) for every action—from waking up in the morning and for every action that ensues throughout the day until bedtime. He turned to Allah in every situa¬ tion—whether in calamities or in happiness. When suffering befell him, he reacted with calmness and a readiness to accept that whatever happens, comes from Allah. When his prayers were answered, he wept for the love of Allah and His almighty mercy. Thus was his life permeated with the remem¬ brance of Allah.

The path of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) encompasses the whole of human life. Undeterred by any worldly power, unmoved by any offer of worldly gain, he proclaimed the glory of Allah. When his uncle, Abu Talib asked him to desist from his mission, he said, “Uncle, should they give me the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand in return for aban¬ doning my call, I would not do so until Allah has brought this message to triumph or until I have perished.’’ All who come after Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) should endeavor to pursue this stoic frame of mind. He was indu¬ bitably a trustworthy recipient of Allah’s message. In him, there was no question of changing or hiding the revealed word, even when it contained his divine admonition. Nor did he preach that which went against the word of Allah in order to satisfy his own desires. He only conveyed the word that Allah revealed to him. So, his words were law.

The sublime state in which man has been created can be maintained only through the love, and ultimately the gnosis of Allah, but our recogni¬ tion of Allah is only to the extent that He has revealed himself to us, both in the world of manifestation and within the deepest recesses of our souls. Man’s greatest achievement is in possessing those qualities that make him truly human. These qualities are enshrined in the eternal names of Allah, the greatest manifestations of which are to be seen in Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.). This is why the Prophet told us that he was sent to complete the excellence of character. A believer can hope to attain some of the sweet qualities of the Prophet by following him in both the physical acts (the exoteric aspects) of the sunnah as well as the spiritual acts (the esoteric aspects) of the sunnah. His sunnah is the only means of drawing near to Allah. Prophetic qualities cannot be imbibed, save through the emulation (ittiba ‘) of the Prophet, and this emulation is the precondition of the love of Allah: “If you love Allah, follow me, then Allah will love you” (Qur’an 3:31). By emulating every act of the Prophet, every living moment of a believer becomes significant, every action full of meaning.

To comprehend the entire spiritual status of the Prophet, to whom Allah revealed some of the ultimate truths of His creation, is beyond any mortal, but the moral and spiritual teachings of the Prophet are a living reality in the lives of millions of Muslims today. By following his moral and spiritual teachings, they follow the best of human examples. There are no virtues

Foreword other than the virtues of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.); all virtues are sub¬ sumed under the virtues of the Prophet.

Let us pray that Imam Birgivi’s al-Tariqah al-Muhammadiyyah, translated and interpreted by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak, proves to be an invaluable companion to both the novice and the advanced in the path, as well as common believers in their spiritual journey to meet their Lord. May Allah guide us to Him by means of his chosen prophet, Hadrat Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and may He bless our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.), and his family and companions and give them peace.

Shaykh Abdul Mabud Director General The Islamic Academy Cambridge, U.K.

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