Books, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Muhammad Sattaur
The Khasa’is: An Introduction to the Unique ...

The Khasa'is genre of literature revolves around the unique characteristics and distinctive features of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The term khasa'is is derived from the Arabic language, meaning "unique characteristics" or "distinctive features." This genre of literature aims to celebrate and elevate the status of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by emphasizing his exceptional qualities and the special relationship he held with Allah. Khasa’is constitutes a significant part of Islamic scholarly tradition, as it focuses on the life, virtues, and miracles of the Prophet.

The Origins of the Khasa’is Genre

The Khasa'is literature emerged as a distinct genre in the early Islamic period, with scholars and theologians dedicating their works to exploring and narrating the extraordinary aspects of the Prophet's ﷺ life. These works often drew from various sources, including the Quran, Hadith, and historical accounts, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Prophet's exemplary life ﷺ.

The Khasa’is: An Introduction to the Unique Characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Al-Ghazali
Patrick Bensen
A Guide to Zakat: Types of Zakat, Their ...

O beloved!

Know that giving zakat comprises one of the religion’s principal pillars, for the Prophet ﷺ said,

‘The foundations of Islam are five principles: the testimony of faith, prayer, zakat, fasting, and pilgrimage.’

Moreover, it is reported that,

‘Those who possess gold and silver, yet refuse to pay zakat, a piercing mark will be placed on their chests. And those who possess cattle, but fail to pay the requisite zakat, on the Day of Judgement, the quadrupeds will set upon and trample them endlessly.’

These reports are mentioned in the Sahihayn, therefore, those who possess wealth are impelled to gain knowledge of zakat for it comprises an obligation.

A Guide to Zakat: Types of Zakat, Their Conditions, Etiquettes, and Timing
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Patrick Bensen
A Guide to Salawat: Meanings, Rulings, Methods, ...

On the Meaning of Sending Prayers Upon Him ﷺ

Allah (Exalted is He) has said,

“Indeed, Allah and His Angels send prayers upon the Prophet. O you who be- lieve! Send prayers upon him and extend him a worthy salutation”

(al-Aḥzāb, 33:56).

Ibn ‘Abbas said,

“The meaning (of this verse) is that Allah and His Angels bless the Prophet ﷺ.”

It has also been said that it means,

“Indeed, Allah has mercy upon His Prophet ﷺ, and the Angels supplicate for him.”

Al-Mubrid said,

“The root meaning of ṣalāh (prayers) is to show mercy. Thus, (prayers) from Allah are mercy and prayers from the Angels are compassion and seeking for Allah to have mercy (on the person).”

A Guide to Salawat: Meanings, Rulings, Methods, and Benefits
Al-Ghazali
Patrick Bensen
A Guide to Fasting (Sawm): Its Obligations, ...

O beloved! Know that fasting is a pillar from the pillars of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ stated, ‘Allah ﷻ says: I grant from ten to seven hundred rewards in return for a good deed. But fasting is Mine, and I grant its recompense.’

And Allah ﷻ said:

إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ

'"...Only those who endure patiently will be given their reward without limit."'

(al-Zumar, 39:10)

Indeed, the reward of one who exercises patience over appetence shall surpass all limits. The Prophet ﷺ related, ‘Patience comprises one-half of faith, and fasting encompasses one-half of patience.’

A Guide to Fasting (Sawm): Its Obligations, Conditions, Prophetic Practices, and Realities
Al-Ghazali
Patrick Bensen
A Guide to Dhikr: Etiquettes, Virtues, ...

O beloved!

Know that the untainted purpose of worship is to remember the Truth ﷻ, since ritual worship comprises the pillar of religion, and its purpose is divine remembrance.

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah ﷻ says:

ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

‘Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, [genuine] prayer should deter [one] from indecency and wickedness. The remembrance of Allah is [an] even greater [deterrent]. And Allah [fully] knows what you [all] do.’

(al-’Ankabut, 29:45)

Moreover, recitation of the Holy Qur’an counts among the most virtuous acts of worship, since it comprises the Speech of Allah ﷻ and serves as a reminder to the reciter. Indeed, the Holy Qur’an acts to revive the remembrance of the Truth ﷻ in the heart. Besides, fasting aims to rupture appetence in order to purify the heart from concerns with a particular appetite and render it a chamber of divine remembrance, since a heart preoccupied with worldly appetence can neither hope to gain such a lofty station nor undergo change through remembrance. Likewise, the purpose of the pilgrimage, which involves visitation of the House of Allah ﷻ, is to remember the Lord ﷻ of the House and to provoke a yearning in the heart by way of His ﷻ encounter.

A Guide to Dhikr: Etiquettes, Virtues, Realities, and Collected Supplications

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

,

The Khasa’is: An Introduction to the Unique Characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

,
The Khasa’is: An Introduction to the Unique Characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Khasa'is genre of literature revolves around the unique characteristics and distinctive features of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The term khasa'is is derived from the Arabic language, meaning "unique characteristics" or "distinctive features." This genre of literature aims to celebrate and elevate the status of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by emphasizing his exceptional qualities and the special relationship he held with Allah. Khasa’is constitutes a significant part of Islamic scholarly tradition, as it focuses on the life, virtues, and miracles of the Prophet.

The Origins of the Khasa’is Genre

The Khasa'is literature emerged as a distinct genre in the early Islamic period, with scholars and theologians dedicating their works to exploring and narrating the extraordinary aspects of the Prophet's ﷺ life. These works often drew from various sources, including the Quran, Hadith, and historical accounts, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Prophet's exemplary life ﷺ.

A Guide to Salawat: Meanings, Rulings, Methods, and Benefits

A Guide to Salawat: Meanings, Rulings, Methods, and Benefits

On the Meaning of Sending Prayers Upon Him ﷺ

Allah (Exalted is He) has said,

“Indeed, Allah and His Angels send prayers upon the Prophet. O you who be- lieve! Send prayers upon him and extend him a worthy salutation”

(al-Aḥzāb, 33:56).

Ibn ‘Abbas said,

“The meaning (of this verse) is that Allah and His Angels bless the Prophet ﷺ.”

It has also been said that it means,

“Indeed, Allah has mercy upon His Prophet ﷺ, and the Angels supplicate for him.”

Al-Mubrid said,

“The root meaning of ṣalāh (prayers) is to show mercy. Thus, (prayers) from Allah are mercy and prayers from the Angels are compassion and seeking for Allah to have mercy (on the person).”

How the Prophet ﷺ Dealt with Trauma and Hardship

How the Prophet ﷺ Dealt with Trauma and Hardship

It will be no surprise to hear that the Prophet’s response to moments of extreme difficulty was to turn to Allah. The manner and extent to which he ﷺ confided in Him, however, is truly Prophetic. The Prophet ﷺ abandoned every facet of his world and turned to his Friend. He ﷺ did not ask with hope, but rather with absolute certainty, that his Lord – his Rabb – was the solution.

The Prophet ﷺ had a two-step process when encountering hardship:

  1. Turn to Allah in prayer and confide in Him

  2. Seek counsel from his trusted confidants

The order of his process, however, never changed. A person’s immediate response to an event is quite telling of their mindset and understanding, and the Prophet ﷺ always – without exception – turned to the Creator in prayer before consulting His creation.

The Splitting of the Moon and the Holding Back of the Sun

The Splitting of the Moon and the Holding Back of the Sun

“The Hour has drawn near, and the Moon was split in two. Yet, when- ever they see a sign, they turn away, saying, ‘Same old magic.’” (54:1-2)

Allah Exalted informs us of the splitting of the Moon in the past tense, and describes how the disbelievers turned away from His signs. Commentators and people of the Sunnah unanimously agree that this miracle took place.

Al-Ḥusayn ibn Muhammad al-Ḥāfiẓ reports in his book: Siraj ibn ‘Abdullah narrated, from al-Asiti, from al-Marwaziyy, from al-Farabi, from Bukhari, from Musaddad, from Yahya, from Shu’bah, and Sufyan, from al-A’mash, from Ibrahim, from Abu Ma’mar, from Ibn Mas’ud رضي الله عنه who said:

“The Moon was split at the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ into two parts: one part was above the mountains, and the other part was below them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘Witness!’” (Bukhari 4864) (Muslim 2800)