Why Study Seerah?
One might come to think that why one –particularly a Muslim –should study the Seerah of the Prophet peace be upon him? What are the benefits of studying the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him? And what is the importance of studying the Seerah of the Prophet? The answer to these questions is quite simple. A Muslim has to study the Seerah of the Prophet peace be upon him because that is an obligation on every single Muslim. Allah Almighty has put every Muslim under an obligation to know the Prophet Muhammad and as He has provided for the guidance of the Muslims the best examples in the life of the Prophet Muhammad. Allah Almighty says in the Surah al-Ahzāb verse 21 that “there are best examples for you in the life of the Prophet of Allah.” Thus, from the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him we can get the best possible examples to order our lives in a better way. On the personal aspect, he was the best person in the whole history of mankind. On the domestic level, he was the best husband and the best father. And on the political sphere, he was the best leader and the best statesman. Now, in any aspect people can get ultimate guidance from the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. A father can know how to be a good father. A husband can learn how to be a noble husband and a leader can understand how to be a great leader to lead the nation.
Apart from that the love for the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is one of the basic requirements of being a good Muslim. Anas b. Mālik narrates from the Prophet of Allah that he said that “none of you can be a Muslim unless I (the Messenger of Allah) become more beloved to him than his kids, his father, his wealth and all human beings.” And by studying the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him people can increase the level of love for the Prophet in their hearts. This is because by the study of Seerah they will realize how a great person he was and how a merciful person he was for humanity in general and Muslims in particular. This saddening that Muslims today, largely neglected the Seerah of the Holy Prophet peace be upon him and they are in dire need of Studying Seerah of the Prophet and bring that in the practice in their lives so that they could get the glory back to the Islamic world.
These any many other reasons convince us about the importance of studying seerah of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. May Allah give all of us taufeeq for that.
Benefits of Studying Biography of the Prophet
Coming to the second question one can have about studying Seerah of the Prophet, there are a number of benefits of studying the biography of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Some of these benefits are being explained below.
Seerah Helps Us Understand the Quran
One of the foremost benefits of studying the biography of the Prophet is that the Seerah helps us understand the Qurān. Allah Almighty has sent down the Quran as his ultimate guide to mankind. Since Quran is for all times, it is a very profound book comprising on general principles. And all the details are in the Sunnah and the Seerah of the Prophet peace be upon him. Apart from that, sometimes the Quranic verses cannot be understood without Seerah because Seerah provides the context for the Qurān. One such example is verse 3 of Surah al-Duhā in which Allah says: “your lord has neither left you and nor he is displeased with you.” This verse cannot provide a complete understanding without its context which is in the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.
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Also, the way of performing prayers and their timings, the ratio of zakat that has to be paid and many other core details of religious obligations cannot be derived from the Qurān alone without getting help from the Seerah and Sunnah of the Prophet peace be upon him.
Importance of Studying the Seerah
What we have discussed above crystalizes the answer for the third question that is about the importance of studying the Seerah. The study of seerah is of a great importance that it gives direction for the revival of the Ummah. Because the last of the ummah cannot rise once again without applying the manner applied in the beginning of this ummah and that manners and practices can be explained by a careful study of Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him.