التاريخ : الأربعاء 26 أغسطس 2026 . القسم : The Message
On the Anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
﴾And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.﴿
(Al-Anbiya: 107)
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds; and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), and upon his kinship, and all his companions and followers till the Day of Judgment.
During the month of Rabi' al-Awwal, the fragrant memory of the birth of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) passes over us. Today, Muslims are in the greatest need of returning to his guidance and recalling his message, through which Allah brought humanity out of darkness into light, and from the worship of created beings to the worship of the Lord of all creation.
Islam came through the message of its Prophet (PBUH) to liberate humanity from all forms of servitude to other than Allah – from the worship of idols, desires, and tyranny, as well as the subjugation of human by human – and to grant man dignity through servitude to Allah alone.
Allah Almighty says in Surat Al-Imran: ﴾Say, "O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah." But if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims [submitting to Him]." ﴿ (Al-Imran: 64)
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came to a world where many corners were filled with polytheism, injustice, despotism, and discrimination among people. Through his message, the lights of monotheism, guidance, justice, and mercy shone forth.
How true were the words of Poet Laureate Ahmed Shawqi, when he said:
“You arrived while humanity was in chaos, passing through none
Save an idol enamored with another idol.
And the earth was filled with injustice, subjugated
To every tyrant who ruled over and dominated creation.”
Thus, the Prophet (PBUH) came as a mercy to humanity, eager for their guidance, and compassionate toward them, as described by his Lord in Surat Al-Tawbah: ﴾There has certainly come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; [he is] concerned over you and to the believers is kind and merciful. ﴿ (Al-Tawbah: 128)
Guidance That Shapes Life
The guidance of the Prophet (PBUH) was not merely sermons to be recited; it was a complete methodology designed to shape the individual, the family, and society, establishing life upon faith, justice, mercy, and trust.
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) happened to pass by a heap of corn. He thrust his hand in that (heap) and his fingers felt wetness. He said to the owner and seller of that heap of corn, "What is this?" He replied: "O Messenger of Allah! These have been drenched by rainfall." He remarked, "Why did you not place this (the drenched part of the heap) over the corn so that people might see it? He who deceives is not of us." (Narrated by Muslim); teaching us that honesty is the foundation of transactions and that the rectitude of society begins with the integrity of conscience in the simplest matters of daily life.
When some people attempted to intercede on behalf of a noble Makhzumi woman who had stolen, he (PBUH) declared: “By Allah, if Fatimah daughter of Muhammad were to steal, I would cut off her hand”, affirming that justice does not discriminate between the strong and the weak, or the rich and the poor. [It was narrated from 'Aishah that Quraish (the Prophet’s own tribe) were worried about the Mkahzumi woman who had stolen. They said; Who will speak to the Messenger of Allah concerning her?" They said: "Who would dare to do that except Usamah bin Zaid, the beloved of the Messenger of Allah?" so Usamah spoke to him and the Messenger of Allah said: "Are you interceding concerning one of the Hadd punishments decreed by Allah?" Then he stood up and addressed (the people) and said: "Those who came before you were destroyed because, whenever a noble person among them stole, they would let him go. But if a person who was weak stole, they would carry out the punishment on him. By Allah, if Fatimah the daughter of Muhammad were to steal, I would cut off her hand."] (Agreed upon by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim).
Part of his guidance (PBUH) in calling people to Islam and in upbringing was gentle treatment, consideration of individual circumstances, and instructing the mistaken with wisdom rather than harshness or alienation; for the purpose of education is guidance and reform, not merely exposing errors. Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "Make things easy and do not make them difficult, cheer the people up by conveying glad tidings to them and do not repulse (them)." (Agreed upon by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim).
He (PBUH) maintained rights even with children. Sahl bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that: A drink (of milk and water) was brought to Allah's Messenger while a boy was sitting on his right side and old men were sitting on his left side. He asked the boy, "Will you allow me to give it to these (people)?" The boy said, "No, by Allah, I will not allow anyone to take my right from you." Then the Prophet (PBUH) put the bowl in the boy's hand.” (Agreed upon by Imam Al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim). This demonstrates respect for rights, even when the one who has the right is a child.
In building society, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) established consultation (Shura) and listened to the opinions of his Companions, fulfilling Allah’s command in Surat Al-Imran: ﴾…And consult with them in ˹conducting˺ matters….﴿ (Al-Imran:159). His guidance combined mercy with dignity, forgiveness with the preservation of rights, and reconciliation when beneficial with steadfastness upon truth—offering a fully integrated methodology.
For this reason, the Quran directs us to follow his example, as Allah Almighty said in Surat Al-Ahzab: ﴾There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often. ﴿
Guidance for the Worlds
Imam Hassan al-Banna (may Allah have mercy on him) expressed the universal nature of this message (of Islam) and the humanity’s need for it, stating: “Indeed, the entire world is confused and in turmoil, and all of its systems have proven incapable of curing it. There is no remedy for it except Islam. So step forward in the name of Allah to save it; for everyone is awaiting the savior, and the savior will be none other than the message of Islam, whose torch you carry and whose glad tidings you spread.” (Message of: ‘To the Youth’)
Islam is not a message exclusive to Muslims alone; it is guidance and mercy for all humanity, seeking to establish justice, balance, and human dignity. Therefore, carrying the message of Islam does not mean introversion or merely defending a specific identity; rather, it means fulfilling the duty of introducing this mercy and embodying it through morals, justice, reform, and service to humanity.
How Great Is Our Need Today for the Prophet’s Traditional Biography
This anniversary arrives while our Islamic nation passes through a harsh stage of weakness. It faces a global tyranny where balance of power and self-interest are forced at the expense of justice and truth, alongside internal despotism that constrains peoples, confiscates freedoms, drains energies, and prevents them from fulfilling their role in reform and revival.
The impact of this crisis manifests in painful forms: detainees hidden behind bars, exiled individuals displaced from their homelands, and reformers, preachers, and thinkers excluded from their societies through imprisonment, exile, or threats—while others withdraw under the weight of pressures and risks. With the absence of many of these reformative energies, corruption and deviation have spread, values have weakened, and meanings of honesty, modesty, trust, and responsibility have declined. Consequently, societies have become more vulnerable to currents of disintegration that oppose Islamic values and weaken social cohesion.
Nevertheless, weakness is not an inevitable destiny, nor is affliction the end of the road. The Prophet's call passed through stages of persecution, siege, and migration, after which Allah granted empowerment and victory. From his biography, we draw the understanding of patience, steadfastness, sound preparation, preservation of faith and values, and refusal to despair of reform, no matter how severe the trials become.
Allah said in Surat Al-Imran: ﴾So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers. ﴿ (Al-Imran: 139)
And He Almighty said in Surat Al-Qasas: ﴾And We wanted to confer favor upon those who were oppressed in the land and make them leaders and make them inheritors. ﴿ (Al-Qasas: 5)
Glimmers of Hope
Among the glimmers of hope is that the peoples of our nation, despite the trials that have befallen them, still possess living faith, a rejection of injustice, and an aspiration toward freedom, justice, and dignity.
Among these signs is the steadfastness of the people of Palestine – at the heart of which are the people of Gaza – and their commitment to their land and rights despite the killing, displacement, and destruction inflicted upon them, and the way their suffering has awakened the conscience of millions worldwide.
The glimmers of hope are not confined to the interior of our nation alone. The moral crises facing contemporary material civilization are re-raising major questions regarding the family, human nature (Fitrah), tranquility, and the purpose of life. Islam offers a balanced answer that connects soul and body, freedom and responsibility, and the individual and society.
Yet the greatest promise is Allah’s pledge to His believing servants in Surat Al-Nour, as Allah Almighty said: ﴾Allah has promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He will surely grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He granted it to those before them and that He will surely establish for them [therein] their religion which He has preferred for them and that He will surely substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.﴿ (Al-Nour: 55). Remember that Allah’s promise is bound to faith, action, and reform – not to mere wishful thinking.
Our Duty on the Anniversary of His Birthday
True celebration of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) means transforming love for him into adherence to his way, remembrance of him into action, and his biography (PBUH) into a way of life.
Allah Almighty said in Surat Al-Imran: ﴾Say, [O Muhammad], "If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." ﴿ (Al-Imran: 31)
The first thing we need is to emulate him (PBUH) in our character. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “The dearest and nearest among you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be one who is the best of you in manners; …” (Narrated by Al-Tirmithi).
Thus, we should raise our children upon faith, truthfulness, justice, chastity, modesty, and mercy, connecting them to the biography of their Prophet (PBUH) and the lives of the male and female Companions so that they find in them true role models.
The family remains the primary fortress for morals and faith. Fathers and mothers must make their homes an environment of love, dialogue, understanding, guidance, and good examples.
We also need to unite our voice and cooperate in goodness, in obedience to Allah’s command in Surat Al-Maidah: ﴾… And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression…﴿ (Al-Maidah: 2)
A nation does not rise through internal conflict and mutual accusations, but through cooperation, respecting the etiquette of disagreement, and uniting upon truth and goodness.
Supporting the oppressed, rejecting aggression, and standing with the truth remain firm principles of our ethics. Allah Almighty says in Surat Al-Maidah: ﴾O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what you do. ﴿(Al-Maidah: 8)
In this manner, the anniversary of the Prophet’s birthday becomes a renewed starting point for reforming ourselves, our homes, and our societies, renewing our connection with the Prophet's guidance, and bringing his mercy, justice, and wisdom into our practical reality.
Imam Hassan al-Banna (may Allah have mercy on him) expressed how reform starts within the individual by saying: “Build yourselves, and your nation will be built through you.”
Let this anniversary be a renewal of the covenant with his guidance (PBUH), an awakening of souls to follow his example, act upon his message, carry his religion, raise his banner, and convey it to all mankind.
May Allah send peace, blessings, and honor upon our Prophet Muhammad, his kinship, and all his companions and followers of his guidance till the Day of Judgment.
Allah is the Greatest, and praise be to Allah,
Dr. Salah Abdel Haq
Acting General Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood
(Tuesday, 12 Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1448 AH, 26 August 2026 AD)