Muslims around the world are celebrating the anniversary of the appointment of Mohammad (SAW) to prophecy, an event that changed history.

His Eminence, the Religious Authority, the late Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, delivered the following sermon at the Imamain Al-Hassanain Mosque, Shaaban, 2^nd 1430 H. - July, 24th 2009 on the occasion of Mabaath (Appointment to Prophethood) anniversary.

The Mabaath Anniversary

When we celebrate the anniversary of Al-Mabaath, which is the day Islam was born through the revelation Allah sent to His Messenger (SAW) … when we celebrate this day, we recall that orphan who lost his father and mother, but who was embraced with God's mercy, graciousness, and kindness… He was being prepared to assume the task of leading the world to the path of unification. He was meant to be the seal of the Prophets and the mercy which embraces all people and the entire universe. He was also sent to teach people how to practice life, develop it and give it from their mind a mind that develops the truth, and from their hearts a heart that opens up on all spiritual values, and from their movements a movement that extends justice to all life on earth.

Abu Talib: The Protector of the Prophethood

The Divine Mercy saw to it that the Prophet (SAW) should be cared for by his uncle Abu Talib, who gave the Messenger (SAW) all his affection, love, and care. He was looking after him before the Message, making sure that everything was being ensured to enable him to grow up into that honest and trustworthy young man. He was also with him, following the Mabaath, as his only supporter. Some stories state that Abu Talib was the only supporter of the Prophet, and the one who used to endure all the cruelty and hurt of his people, and the one who ensured, throughout his life, that no harm would inflict the Prophet as long as he was alive. Eventually, when Abu Talib died, Quraish was able to immensely hurt the Prophet.

Historical books state that after the Prophet (SAW) publicly denounced Quraish paganism, the leaders of the tribes asked Abu Talib to hold back his nephew; when he did not, they again went to him and said: "We have told you to stop him from offending the faith of our forefathers, denouncing our idols, thoughts and beliefs. But you have not paid attention to our demands and have not attempted to stop him. We swear by God that we will not tolerate disrespect towards our gods and denunciation of the faith and beliefs of our fathers. You must prevent him from doing these things or we will fight both, him and you, being a staunch supporter of him, until either you or we are killed". Abu Talib sent for Muhammad (SAW) and told him the news and added: "Spare me and yourself and put not a burden on me that I can not bear". Muhammad (SAW) thought that his uncle would let him down and would no longer support him, so he replied: "O my uncle! By God, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, on condition that I abandon this course, until God has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it." Muhammad, then, burst into tears. He got up, and as he turned away, his uncle called him back and said: "Go and preach what you please, for by God, I will never forsake you." Abu Talib, then, recited two lines of verse that prove that he believed in Islam since their meanings were of full support to Muhammad (SAW), telling him that he is the faithful and that his religion is the best of religions.

The Holy Mabaath and the challenges of the Message

Therefore, that is how the Prophet (SAW) lived when Allah sent him with the Message, and Allah gave him from His own knowledge, because the Prophet was not taught by a teacher, for Allah says: "And thus did We reveal to you an inspired book by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor (what) the faith (was), but We made it a light, guiding thereby whom We please of Our servants; and most surely you show the way to the right path." (42:52) The Quran also tells us how Allah was the Prophet (p.)'s teacher: "And Allah has revealed to you the Book and the wisdom, and He has taught you what you did not know, and Allah's grace on you is very great." (04:113)

Allah wanted His Messenger to go through what the prophets had gone through and revealed to him the challenges that they had faced, for He says: "And all we relate to you of the accounts of the messengers is to strengthen your heart therewith; and in this has come to you the truth and an admonition, and a reminder to the believers." (11:120). Allah also says: "And those who disbelieve say: Why has not the Quran been revealed to him all at once? Thus, that We may strengthen your heart by it and We have arranged it well in arranging." (25:32). Allah used to look after the Prophet (p.) and provide him with all the love and care, for he (p.) is the Messenger whom He Allah chosen to be a mercy upon the worlds.

In a demonstration of the Prophet (p.)'s status amongst people, Allah says to them: "Even as We have sent among you a Messenger from among you who recites to you Our communications and purifies you and teaches you the Book and the wisdom and teaches you that which you did not know." (02:151). Allah also says: "Certainly Allah conferred a benefit upon the believers when He raised among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His communications and purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the wisdom, although before that they were surely in manifest error." (03:164).

Moreover, Allah wanted us to study the role of the Prophet (SAW) and his sayings thoroughly, as well as the truths and edicts he has revealed to the people. Actually, the Message of the Messenger of Allah was not restricted to a certain time, but rather it was directed to all the people of all generations and the entire world. Thus, the Messenger of Allah launched his international human Call: "Say: O people! Surely I am the Messenger of Allah to you all." (07:158), and: "And We have not sent you but to all the men as a bearer of good news and as a warner." (34:28).

Allah wanted the Islamic Message to prevail all over the world, so that the entire world becomes Islamic. Thus, the Muslims, at any place and time, ought to call for Islam and face anyone who tries to distort its image and drive people away from it. In this way, the world can live for the sake of Islam and by Islam, in its doctrines, legislations, concepts, and values, for He says: "It is He Who hath sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it)." (09:33).

When we study the personality of the Messenger of Allah (p.) in the Holy Quran, we cannot but notice the missionary personality that lived with the poor and talked to people with mercy and kindness, for Allah says: "Thus it is due to mercy from Allah that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough, hard hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you." (03:159).

Al-Mabaath is an occasion for reviving and not celebrating

Allah wanted to educate His Messenger, so He took His servant(p.) for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to Al-Aqsa Mosque; the mosque of the Messages… for Allah says: "Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless, in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things)." (17:01). So, Allah taught him by means of the signs revealed to him throughout his journey, increasing the Prophet's knowledge and broadening his horizons.

When we commemorate the anniversary of Al-Isra' and Al-Ma'araj, we ought to live Islam as a whole. Actually, the matter does not only lie in remembering the Prophet (p.) through our celebrations, but rather in remembering the religion of Islam he has revived, and the obligations it has ordained. As such, Islam becomes the religion of the entire world that all people ought to abide by, as Allah wanted us to achieve this goal: "Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation".(16:125). Allah wanted us to be callers to Islam, each in accordance with his knowledge, circumstances and potentials. Therefore, those who immigrate all over the world ought to benefit from the countries they have migrated to, to assume the mission of introducing the real Islam to the people. Actually, nowadays, there is a war that the atheists and the arrogant have declared on Islam, and our duty is to protect Islam with all our knowledge and power. Moreover, we ought to declare a state of Islamic emergency, especially in this phase, in which we are facing the arrogant powers who are seeking to incite sedition amongst the Muslims to fight one another, through the collaborators they have planted in the Islamic world.

We ought to feel the Messenger of Allah; by living his memory in our minds and hearts, as well as in our daily lives. We also ought to think of him when we abide by a certain legal ruling; i.e. we ought to deem lawful what he had deemed lawful, and deem unlawful what he had deemed unlawful, for what he had deemed lawful will remain lawful the Day of Judgment and what he had deemed unlawful will remain unlawful until the Day of Judgment.

Allah says: "Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect." (33:56).