Servitude to Allah implies man’s freedom from all forms of
restrictions, attachment, and affection. It gives man so much power that he
would not be afraid of any superpower. Because of being a sincere servant of
Allah, the wife of Pharaoh became such an impenetrable force that all of Pharaoh’s
gold and silver had no effect on her and she remained servant of Allah alone.
Her accomplishment was such that she became a model for all believing men and
women throughout history. Surah al-Tahrim Ayah 11 refers to it, “Allah draws
an (other) example for those who have faith: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said,
‘My Lord! Build me a home near You in Paradise, and deliver me from Pharaoh and
his conduct, and deliver me from the wrongdoing lot.’”
In any case, the testimony to the Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.)’s servant hood (ubdiyyat) to Allah is preliminary to the testimony
of his apostleship (risalah). Testimony to his apostleship means the negation of
all man-made schools; acceptance of the eternity and universality of the
apostleship of the Seal of the Prophets (khatem al-anbiya); and the rejection
of all taghuts. Testimony of the apostle ship of the Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) is a covenant that Allah has made with all the prophets; had they
not accepted his apostleship; they would not have attained the station of prophet hood.
This was stated in Surah Ali-Imran Ayah 81, “When Allah took a compact
concerning the prophets, (He said) ‘ In as much as I have given you of the Book
and wisdom, should an apostle come to you thereafter confirming what is with
you, you shall believe in him and help him.’ He said, ‘Do you pledge and accept
My covenant on this condition? They said, ‘We pledge’. He said, ‘Then be
witnesses, and I am also among the witnesses along with you.’
Therefore, I am not alone in saying, “Ashhadu Anna
Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasulah” as all the prophets (a.s.) have said so as well.
Servitude (ubudiyyah) is the highest station of the
prophets (a.s.). Indeed, it is the preliminary stage of apostleship and
prophethood. (abduhu wa rasulah)
It is the servitude to Allah that brings the Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.) to the Ascension (Mi’raj) as stated in Surah al-Asra’ Ayah 1, “Immaculate
is He who carried His servant on a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to
the Farthest Mosque whose environs We have blessed, that We might show him some
of Our signs. Indeed, He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing. Also surah
al-Baqarah Ayah 23, “And if you are in doubt concerning what We have sent down to
Our servant, then bring a Surah like it, and invoke your helpers besides Allah,
should you be truthful.”
Allah also praises His prophets (a.s.) for their servitude
to Him. In Surah al-Asra’ Ayah 3, “…. descendants of those whom We carried (in
the ark) with Noah. Indeed, he was a grateful servant.” And, Hazrat Suleyman in
Surah Sad Ayah 30, “And to David (Dawood) We gave Solomon (Suleyman) – what an
excellent servant.”
One of the distinctions of the prophets (a.s.) in relation
to the geniuses and inventors is that the latter have obtained their genius and
creativity as a result of intelligence,
perseverance and exercise , while the prophets have acquired their miracles as
a result of servitude to Allah and under the aegis of the divine grace, and
servitude is the foundation of all the stations of the prophets.
Acknowledgment of servant hood of the prophets prevents any
form of extremism, fanaticism and radicalism concerning the stations of the
saints of Allah. It reminds us that the prophet, though the best of creation,
is also a servant of Allah. It is needles to say that this testimony must be
based on sincerity and truthfulness for, the hypocrites (munafiqin) used to
testify also to the apostleship.
Source:
A Commentary on Prayer by Allama Muhsin Qara’ti
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