The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 22
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 22 Prayer upon Returning from a Journey During his return journey, the Holy Prophet sa offered a prayer which the Muslims later began to recite, usually whilst returning from significant journeys. The prayer was: َ آئِبُوْن َ تَائِبُوْن َ عَابِدُوْن َ سَاجِدُوْن َ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُوْن “We are those who return to our God, we bow to him, we worship him, we prostrate before him, and sing in praise of our Lord. ” In his later journeys, the Holy Prophet sa would generally offer this prayer himself as well and on certain occasions would add the following words: ٗ صَدَق َ اللّٰه ُ وَعْدَه ٗ وَنَصَر َ عَبْدَه ٗ وَھَزَم َ الْاَحْزَاب َ وَحْدَه “Our God fulfilled his promise, and helped his servant and put the enemy forces to flight by his breath. ” 1 This prayer, which scholars of Sīrat have mentioned in conjunction with the Ghazwah of Banū Liḥyān and the Muḥaddithin 2 have also testified to, possesses a unique expression. By studying it, one receives the opportunity to understand the emotions which permeated in the pure heart of the Holy Prophet sa (may my soul be a ransom for him) in this tumultuous era, and what he wished to instill into the hearts of his companions. In this prayer, the anxious desire of the Holy Prophet sa which was hidden, was that Allāh the Exalted remove the obstacles which were being set up by the enemy to hinder the worship and peaceful preaching of the Muslims. Moreover, gratitude has been paid to Allāh the Exalted, for in as much of the hurdles which He had removed thus far. The example of this is like a man who is absorbed in very desirable work and suddenly another person interferes, thus distracting his attention. However, after some time, this hindrance is removed by divine grace and once again he finds the opportunity to engage in his beloved work. The emotions that would be induced in such a man are those hidden in this 1 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Jihādi Was-Siyar, Bābu Mā Yaqūlu Idhā Raja‘a Minal-Ghazwi, Ḥadīth No. 3084 * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābul-Jihādi Was-Siyar, Bābut-Takbīri Idhā ‘Alā Sharafan, Ḥadīth No. 2995 2 Scholars of Ḥadīth (Publishers)