The Blessed Month of Rabi u' Awal-Celebrating the Prophet (saws)

The Blessed Month of Rabi u’Awal - Celebrating the Prophet (saws)

{INDEED, there has come unto you [O mankind] a Messenger from amongst yourselves; heavily it weighs upon him [the thought] that you might suffer [in the life to come]; full of concern for you, full of compassion and mercy towards the believers} (9:128)
Anas reported that the Messenger of God, peace and mercy be upon him, said:“None of you will believe until I am more beloved to him than his children, his father, and all people.”{Muslim, Al-Bukhari and an-Nasa’i}
These are some excerpts from the book Kanz Al-Najah wa As-Suroor, a book highlighting the special qualities of each month. We are now in the month of Rabi Al-Awwal. We ask Allah that He blesses us in this month with a sincere connection to and love for the beloved Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Ameen.
Know that during this month it is recommended for one to increase in his or her sending of blessings and mercy upon the Prophet (salawat or durood shareef), the Master of Humankind, peace and mercy be upon him. The reason is because it was in this month that the greatest blessing was revealed to the world. In this month the cause of the greatest happiness emerged. In this month the Sun of Guidance rose over mankind and jinn. In this month the Prophet peace and mercy be upon him was born.
Recommended Things to do this Month:
Increase in the sending of mercy, peace, and blessings upon the Messenger of God. Allah commands this in the verse {Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation!} (33:56).
Read and reflect upon the Biography (Sirah) of the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him. Many scholars strongly encourage people to take advantage of this month by reading his life and inculcating his Prophetic character into one’s own. Two great books that are in English are “Muhammad - His Life Based on the Earliest Sources” by Martin Lings, and “Al-Shifa” by Qadi.
For a good audio version of the Prophetic Biography there is “The Life of the Prophet Muhammad ” by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf
Give out charity (sadaqah) in its many forms as often as possible.
Increase in reading the Quran.
Fast as often as possible this month.
Express one’s love for the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, inwardly and outwardly.
Renew one’s oath to follow Allah’s Messenger, peace and mercy be upon him, in his or her inward and outward actions.
Attend gatherings of remembrance of Allah and His Messenger, such as Mawlids, Hadith readings, or any other praiseworthy gathering to remember the Most High and His Beloved, peace and mercy be upon him.
We ask Allah that He blesses us, our families, and the entire Ummah during this month by allowing us to reconnect with the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him. We should try to embody him, peace and mercy be upon him, in all that we do, say, and think. If we attempt to actualize our love for the Prophet, peace and mercy be upon him, during this month and during our entire lives it may be that Allah will grant us the Prophet’s intercession on the Day of Judgment and He grants us a place in the highest levels of Paradise in the company of the Prophets, the Siddiqeen, and the Elite Angels. Ameen!