How Much Do You Love the Prophet ﷺ

"Say, O Muhammad, 'If you should love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.'" - Qur'an 3:31

This verse speaks directly to the heart of faith. To love the Prophet is not merely to admire him, but to follow his example, for it is through his path that divine love and forgiveness are attained.

Throughout history, the lovers of the Prophet ﷺ have expressed this devotion in ways that defy mere words. One such moving account comes from Akhtar al-Nisa, also known as Begum Nawab Sarbuland Jung, who traveled for Hajj in 1909. Her private diary, which was not meant for publication, captures the raw and unfiltered emotions of a believer whose heart overflowed with love and longing for the Prophet ﷺ.

Following is a translation from Urdu presented in the book "A Journey to Mecca and London: The Travels of an Indian Muslim Woman, 1909-1910" by Daniel Majchrowicz.

December 4, 1909

"Saturday morning, after fajr and ishraq, we went for salaams as usual. It is impossible to describe my frenzied state. It feels as though my heart will burst out of my chest. God! The Prophet's love and attraction are so vast. We sinners are nothing compared to it.

My heart is so drawn to and so in love with the Prophet that it feels as though it is being ripped from my chest and left to writhe madly in sorrow from separation from him. Only those who have experienced it can understand the sensation of having to depart from the Prophet's grave. The pen lacks the power to record it. The tongue is powerless to declare it. It felt as though my soul might depart my body to remain in this blessed place.

Our hearts, Nawab Sahib's and mine, commanded us to recite salaams over and over. We did, repeatedly, but it never seemed to be enough because it never could be enough. Our hearts screamed, 'How can I leave such a Master? The Master who helps and supports sinners like us. It is through him that we are alive. He looks after us at every moment of our lives.'

We prayed: 'O Prophet of God! O Son of Abdullah! O Hashimi and Matlabi! O Master of Makkah and Madinah! Having visited you, we now wish to perform the Hajj and to visit the Kaaba. Please attend to us. Ask God to accept our Hajj in your and your family's name. Ask Him to forgive us and ours. Bestow your gentle gaze on all Muslims.'

We finished our supplication and left the Haram Sharif with heavy hearts and tear-filled eyes. As we departed, we turned back to look upon it again and again. Alas! How quickly we have had to depart from this fragrant garden. Yes, my restless heart! Our eyes, which may only gaze on the physical world, have become separated from it, but our hearts' eyes continue to gaze directly upon it at every moment."

Such testimonies remind us that the Prophet ﷺ continues to live in the hearts of believers who love, follow, and emulate him. The Prophet's love is not sentimental alone; it is transformative. It brings about mercy, selflessness, and closeness to Allah.

To follow him is to live the Qur'an. To love him is to find divine love itself.

BUY the book: "A Journey to Mecca and London: The Travels of an Indian Muslim Woman, 1909-1910" by Daniel Majchrowicz.