When you gaze upon his face, radiant features you find

والصَّلَاةُ والسَّلاَمُ عَلَى سَيّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ أَشْرَفِ اْلمُرْسَلِيْنَ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ الطَّيّبِيْنَ الطَّاهِرِيْن

O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, as numerous as the raindrops, as countless as the sands of valleys and deserts, as abundant as the leaves of trees, as plentiful as the foam of seas, as vast as the waters of rivers, as heavy as the weights of mountains and stones, as numerous as the inhabitants of Paradise and Hell, as plentiful as the righteous and the wicked, and as varied as the fluctuations that occur through the night and day.

O Allah, make our salutations upon him a shield against the torment of the abode of ruin, and a means to grant us entry into the abode of permanence. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, the chosen Prophet, the Master of the righteous, the adornment of the noble messengers, the most honourable of whom the night has enveloped and the day has illuminated, ‘Abu l-Qasim, the truthful and selected Prophet, along with his progeny, all his relatives, and companions.

Grant that we may pass away, O Allah, upon his Sunnah, and make us among the people of his guardianship. Benefit us through his guidance and care, and admit us to Paradise alongside his righteous, pure, and noble companions. ‘Amin, ‘Amin, O Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

As we convene to commemorate the month of the Prophet's birth ﷺ, we hold the belief that this occasion deepens our love for him in our hearts, heightens our reverence for him within our souls, and cultivates his affection in the hearts of our sons, daughters, and fellow Muslims.

His scent ﷺ is more fragrant than musk, and his perspiration glistens like pearls. Whenever he ﷺ clasps hands with someone, that person perceives his exquisite fragrance. Similarly, when he ﷺ lays his hand upon a child's head, the scent lingers throughout the day, setting that child apart from others.

Al-Bayhaqiyy narrated from ^A’ishah, may Allah accept her deeds, that she said: "I was seated, spinning, while the Prophet ﷺ was mending his sandal. As he worked, beads of sweat formed on his forehead, each droplet radiating a luminous glow. I was taken aback, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ turned to me and inquired, 'What has astonished you, ^A’ishah?' I replied, 'Your forehead is sweating, and each drop of sweat emits light. If ‘Abu Kabir Al-Hudhaliyy had seen you, he would have realised that you are far more deserving of his poetry.' He then asked, 'What does ‘Abu Kabir say?' I responded:

وُمُبَرَّإ مِنْ كُلِّ غُبَّرِ حَيْضَةٍ           وفَسَادِ مُرْضِعَةٍ ودَاءٍ مُغِيل

He was unburdened by remnants of menstruation,
Not nursed during pregnancy nor in intimate relation.

فَإِذَا نَظَرْتَ إلَى أَسِرَّةِ وَجْهِهِ         بَرَقَتْ كَبَرْقِ العَارِضِ الـمُتَهَلِّلِ

When you gaze upon his face, radiant features you find,
Like bright clouds glistening, with lightning intertwined.

She said: "The Prophet ﷺ rose, kissed me between my eyes, and said, 'May Allah reward you, ^A’ishah, on my behalf with the finest of rewards. The joy you derive from me cannot match the joy I experience from you.’”

The impact of the birth of our Prophet ﷺ is evident upon humanity, and it remains manifest throughout the ages, acknowledged by both the close and the distant, the friend and the foe alike. Before his prophetic mission, people worshipped idols, celestial bodies, and even one another. Some had fallen into such ignorance that they would craft an idol out of dates, worship it, and then consume it when hunger struck.

However, following his arrival, they transformed into advocates of monotheism, the light of guidance, and the worship of Allah, Al-Wahid[1], Al-‘Ahad[2]- who is unlike anything in existence, neither a body nor resembling bodies, who is beyond being contained by space or subject to the flow of time. Muhammad ﷺ illuminated their minds and hearts with the light of faith and monotheism.

O Allah, send blessings upon our Master Muhammad, the most honoured, upon whom the night has darkened and the day has shone. A hundred thousand blessings and a hundred thousand salutations be upon you, O my Master, O Messenger of Allah. A hundred thousand blessings and a hundred thousand salutations be upon you, O Beloved of Allah. A hundred thousand blessings and a hundred thousand salutations be upon you, O Commemorated One, O Messenger of Allah.

﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا﴾

“Indeed, Allah bestows honour and elevates the status of the Prophet [Muhammad], while His angels make supplications on his behalf. O you who believe! Invoke Allah to exalt his rank and to ensure the safety of his nation from that which he disdained for them.”

May Allah reward you, O Messenger of Allah, with the finest rewards on our behalf. May Allah reward you, O my Master, O Beloved of Allah, whose birth was imbued with fragrance. May Allah bestow upon you the greatest recompense for the blessings you brought to Islam and on behalf of the Muslim community. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet, the beloved, esteemed in rank, and of great status, along with his family and companions.

When you invoke blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, O one who loves Muhammad, O one who delights in his mention, O one who commemorates his blessed birth, O one who strives toward the gardens of Paradise while celebrating the birth of Muhammad ﷺ, bestow your blessings upon your cherished Muhammad. Thus, an angel will convey your supplication along with your salutations to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Medina. You remain in your place, merely moving your tongue, as you pray for your beloved, your Messenger, your Prophet. This supplication is borne by an angel from Allah’s angels from your location to the grave of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, proclaiming: “O Messenger of Allah, so-and-so, son of so-and-so, sends you greetings.” The Messenger of Allah will then supplicate for you and return your greeting.

O Allah, bestow upon our Master Muhammad the highest honour, through whom knots are untied, burdens are relieved, needs are fulfilled, desires are attained, good endings are secured, and through whose radiant status the rain of clouds is sought. Bless his family and companions, and grant complete safety to his nation from that which he apprehended for them.

[1] Al-Wahid: The One who has no partner in divinity

[2] Al-‘Ahad: The One who cannot be divided, as He is not a body.