Malfuzat – Volume III — Page 71
71 characteristics of glory and majestic greatness, which are the hallmarks of one who is loved, in the same manner, the name Ahmad inherently bears qualities of humility and meekness, which are the distinctions of one who loves another. The underlying secret in these names is that the life of the Holy Prophet sa has essen- tially been divided into two parts. First there was his life in Mecca which spanned a period of thirteen years. The second part of his life was spent in Medina, which lasted ten years. During his life in Mecca, we see a manifestation of his name Ahmad. During this time, the Holy Prophet sa engaged himself in weeping and crying before God Almighty day and night and would spend his time seeking divine help and in prayer. Anyone who is fully aware of the manner in which the Holy Prophet sa spent his life during this time knows that no lover has ever cried and wept so fervently in search of their beloved as the Holy Prophet sa did during his life in Mecca, and nor will anyone ever be able to match him in this regard. Then, these lamentations of the Holy Prophet sa were not for his own soul, but due to his clear knowledge of the state of the world. The worship of God had disap- peared completely. The soul and the inherent nature of the Holy Prophet sa was leavened by a faith in Allah the Exalted, which fostered within him pleasure and delight. The Holy Prophet sa naturally desired to fill the world with this pleasure and joy as well. But when he cast a glance on the world, he found that their capac- ities and natures had been strangely deformed, and there were many difficulties and hardships at hand. In short, the Holy Prophet sa would weep and cry over this state of the world, and he did so to such an extent that he may well-nigh have lost his life. It is to this that the following words of Allah the Exalted allude: 1 َ ْن ی ِ مُؤْمِن َكُوْنُوْا ی لَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ اَلَّا Haply thou wilt grieve thyself to death because they believe not. This was the life of the Holy Prophet sa in which he humbly begged for divine grace and mercy, a life which showed a manifestation of his name Ahmad. During this era, the Holy Prophet sa was engaged in deep contemplation. The effects of this contemplation and prayer became apparent during life in Medina, when the name Muhammad was manifested, as is evident from the following verse: 1 ash-Shu’ara , 26:4 p. 63