Dr. Bushra Hanoon Mohsen / College of Islamic Sciences – University of Karbala
Allah Almighty says: “Indeed, there has come to you a messenger from among yourselves. Grievous to him is what you suffer; he is concerned over you; and to the believers, he is compassionate and merciful.” (Quran 9:128)
O Messenger of Allah, O possessor of the great heart, O beloved, you who lived the pains of those around you, with your heart aching and bleeding. You who cared for the people more than you cared for yourself. You who were saddened and distressed seeing the poor and orphans, burdened and pained by watching them face the hardships of life.
We never knew from you, O Prophet of mercy and guidance (peace and blessings be upon you), any hatred or animosity toward anyone. You loved all people; you loved the believers so you moved among them in calling to Allah and working for His cause. You loved those who did not believe in you, so you sought to guide them with love and kindness toward the religion of Allah, with your great heart that embraced everyone—both enemy and friend. You endured much from them, and when they wronged you and insulted you, your response was always filled with love and mercy: “O Allah, forgive my people, for they do not know”, “O Allah, guide my people, for they do not know.” Allah mentioned this in His words: “And by the mercy of Allah, you were lenient with them. Had you been rude and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from around you.” (Quran 3:159)
O Muhammad, O Prophet of mercy, O pure and tender heart, you met hatred with love, and offense with forgiveness. You called to the religion of Allah, even as you endured the oppression of the people. You bore the hardships of the boycott, the migration, the loss of loved ones, and the lack of supporters. Yet, you did not retreat, you did not weaken. You fought against Satan in all its forms and faces. All of this, you endured with patience and perseverance, yet the people refused to cease causing you pain. They severed your family ties, hurt your beloved Fatima (peace be upon her), killed your successor Ali (peace be upon him) in prayer, and martyred your sons Hasan and Husayn (peace be upon them). They sought to harm your descendants and grandchildren, killing and scattering them, and the people went on with no helper or supporter except the pure and the righteous.
O your endless pain, you met them with love, and they responded with hatred. You greeted them with peace, and they returned it with war. O Prophet of guidance, has the time not come for your pain to end, for the world to become pure, and for the Hidden One (Imam al-Mahdi) to emerge? Has the time not come?
