Message from Muhammet Rıfat Cinar, Imam of the Tokyo Camii, on the Night of Mawlid an-Nabi
The Messenger of Allah (saw) blessed the world at a time when compassion had been withdrawn from the hearts and mercy from the consciences. Hearts that were barren grew green with his coming. He became a guide for humanity drowning in the vortex of the Jahiliyyah and a hope for the hearts that lost hope. He brought people out of the darkness of oppression into the light of Islam.
Our beloved Prophet (saw) called upon humanity to be servants of Allah (swt), Who is one and only, to justice, goodness, brotherhood and good morals. It was he (saw) who taught humanity to embrace faith and steadfastness on the true path (istiqamah) in the face of polytheism; truth and justice in the face of oppression; knowledge and wisdom in the face of ignorance; and compassion and mercy in the face of violence.
It is our Prophet (saw) who communicated the Holy Qur’an to us, lived by it in all circumstances and taught it to us. The Sunnah of our Prophet (saw) is the embodiment of the Holy Qur’an. The Qur’an and the Sunnah are a whole and can never be separated from each other. Islam cannot be understood and practised without the Messenger of Allah (saw).
The way of obedience to Allah (swt) is to be a follower of our Prophet (saw). Attaining the love of our Lord (swt) is only possible by obeying our Prophet (saw). In fact, the verse is very clear in this regard: “Say, o Prophet! ‘If you sincerely love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you.”
Let us see the Mawlid al-Nabi as a great opportunity to review our lives. Let us strive to make the life-giving principles that our Prophet (saw) introduced to humanity dominant in our homes, workplaces, environment and relationships with people. So that our world may be filled with peace and our Hereafter may be paradise.
I hereby congratulate you all on the occassion of the Night of Mawlid al-Nabi, and pray to Allah that He may enable the Week to be auspicious for the Muslim world and all humanity.
Muhammet Rıfat Çınar
Imam of Tokyo Camii