How did the companions honour the Prophet Muhammad’s life? Bilal Ibn Abdullah Ibn Omar Ibn Al-Khattab narrated that one day his father, Abdullah Ibn Omar said: “Indeed, I heard the Messenger of Allah (s) say:”, “Do not deprive the female slaves of Allah of their share in the mosques.”’ Bilal said, “As for me, I shall forbid my household females, but whosoever wishes to let his women go out, let him do so.” Thus, my father Abdullah turned to Bilal and said, “May Allah curse you! May Allah curse you! May Allah curse you! You hear me say that the Messenger of Allah ordered that women are not to be deprived, and you say otherwise.” Abdullah wept and angrily departed.”
We pick and choose from the Sunnah, the lifestyle and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, like a grocery store, whatever we don’t like we don’t take. During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, because the Prophet did something, the companions did it because he was the best of role models.
Yes, not doing a sunnah has no sin, but doing a sunnah earns good deeds and not only that, it earns the love of Allah. Allah says in the Quran, “Say, [O Muhammad], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful”. Is that not enough to follow the practices of the Prophet?
When an article talks about the benefits of eating one meal a day or intermittent fasting, we are so interested in following the actions, completely putting aside that these are the practices of the Prophet Muhammad.
How do we show our gratitude to the Prophet and adapt his way of life? Studying the seerah brings out the love for the Prophet, showing that you would want to follow his ways. The next is to implement small sunnah into you daily routine to build your spiritual tolerance. Examples can be those of praying one unit of night prayer before bed, reading Surah Al-Mulk, and making wudu before bed. Once they become habits, you can grow spiritually and begin to do even more practices.
Allah’s Messenger has said, “Allah said, “And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him.”
Earn that love by striving to follow his way of life.