On the Prophet’s Mawlid: 10 Lessons to Renew Our Emulation of Him

Rather than delve into the debate over the legitimacy of celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, the best way to commemorate this occasion is by renewing our emulation of him, peace be upon him, by extracting lessons from his life and words. Among these lessons are:

Striving for Human Freedom

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we draw from the guiding light he led towards true human freedom. This freedom’s ultimate aim is to elevate human dignity and free oneself from the base animalistic desires.

It is the freedom that ensures no person enslaves another, nor prevents anyone from attaining truth or limits wisdom by personal desires. Like the words of Pharaoh, who arrogantly declared, as Allah says in the Qur’an: “I do not show you except what I see, and I do not guide you except to the right path.”

A Universal Declaration of Human Rights in the Farewell Sermon

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we remember his powerful and concise words—each of his words was a marvel of brevity and meaning. In his Farewell Sermon, he proclaimed our common human origin: “O people, your Lord is one, and your father is one. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab, nor a white over a black, nor a black over a white, except by piety. Verily, the most honorable of you in the sight of Allah is the most pious. Have I conveyed the message?” They said, “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “Then let those present inform those who are absent.”

Essential Values for Dialogue and Manners

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we are inspired by values that guide human action, organize communal life, and lead to sound decisions. From him, we learn the value of dialogue and truly listening to others. Through the revelation that descended upon him, peace be upon him, we learn how to engage even with those who disagree with us, building understanding through conversation and humility, even when it involves self-critique and addressing the other party with gentleness.

Arm Yourself with Renewed Hope: Matters Only Broaden When They Narrow

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we are infused with the value of hope, a hope that can sometimes escape us in the face of life’s hardships and the onslaught of enemies and oppressors.

As in the hadith: “Among those before you, a man would be seized, a hole would be dug for him in the ground, and he would be placed in it. Then, a saw would be brought and placed on his head, and he would be split in two. This would not make him abandon his religion. And iron combs would be used to tear the flesh from his bones and nerves, but this would not turn him away from his faith. By Allah, this matter will certainly be completed, such that a rider will travel from Sana’a to Hadhramaut, fearing nothing but Allah and the wolf for his sheep. But you are hasty.”

Harmony Between Self-Duties and Social Obligations

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we are reminded of the need for harmony and balance between personal duties and societal responsibilities, between individual goodness and communal benefit.

The Purpose of Benefiting Others

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we are urged to break free from the prison of selfishness and elevate ourselves to serve both ourselves and others, becoming guides for all of humanity. As he said: “Whoever calls to guidance will have the same reward as those who follow him, without their rewards being diminished in the least. And whoever calls to misguidance will bear the burden of those who follow him, without their burdens being lessened in the least.”

And in spreading goodness: “If the Hour comes while one of you has a sapling in his hand, and he is able to plant it before the Hour comes, let him plant it.”

Honoring People’s Trusts

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we learn the value of honoring the trusts people place in us. In the hadith: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, will you not appoint me [to a position]?’ He placed his hand on my shoulder and said, ‘O Abu Dharr, you are weak, and it is a trust. It will be a cause of disgrace and regret on the Day of Judgment, except for those who take it rightly and fulfill their duties regarding it.’” And he renounced those who betray this trust: “Whoever cheats us is not one of us.”

Revering the Companions and the Righteous Generations

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we remember his noble Companions, the Followers, and those who follow them with righteousness until the Day of Judgment. We renew our reverence for them: “The best of generations is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.”

Ascending in Following Him Until Certainty Reaches Us

Because ascending the path of righteousness requires constant emulation of the Prophet, peace be upon him, the remembrance of his birth should be renewed at all times. Through it, our worship is corrected, our nearness to Allah is affirmed, and our bond with Him is strengthened. The path to Allah becomes one of striving, effort, and adherence to the authentic Sunnah, not one of laziness or wishful thinking without action: “Say, if you love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and forgive your sins. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

Do Not Undervalue Any Act of Good

On the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth, peace be upon him, we learn never to underestimate any act of goodness. Even writing these few lines in his memory is an act of good, and we ask Allah for sincerity and acceptance.

“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”