Rahma lil-Alamin - Said bin Wahf 1
- Author died
- 1440 AH
- Editions
- Rahma lil-Alamin - Said bin Wahf 1
Rahma lil-Alamin: Muhammad Rasul Allah ﷺ (A Mercy to the Worlds: Muhammad the Messenger of Allah) is a treatise on the biography, character, and virtues of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, authored by the Saudi scholar Saeed bin Ali bin Wahf al-Qahtani (d. 1440 AH / 2018 CE).
Background and Purpose
In the introduction, al-Qahtani states that knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad constitutes the second of the "Three Principles" (al-Usul al-Thalatha) that every Muslim is required to learn, act upon, and answer for in the grave. Citing the Quranic description of the Prophet in وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ ("And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds"), the author underscores that the Prophet was sent as a universal mercy to humans and jinn, and that multitudes entered Islam drawn by his noble character. To elucidate these virtues and highlight the Prophet's rights over Muslims, he prepared this concise manual (mukhtasar), finishing its text on the morning of Tuesday, 29 Muharram 1427 AH (28 February 2006 CE).
Structure and Contents
The book is organized into thirty-three thematic chapters (mabahith):
- Lineage and Early Life: Chapters 1–2 cover his ancestral descent as "a choice from the best" and his upbringing.
- Physical and Moral Attributes: Chapters 3–17 examine his physical and ethical traits, devotion in worship and jihad, manifestation of mercy, gentleness and playfulness with children, generosity, justice, humility, forbearance, composure, kindness, patience, bravery, wisdom in reconciliation, and eloquence.
- Prophetic Office and Universal Message: Chapters 18–20 treat his miracles, the universal scope of his message to both mankind and jinn, and the acknowledgments of fair-minded Jewish and Christian figures regarding his prophethood.
- Final Days and Passing: Chapters 21–32 chronicle the end of his life, his farewell speeches during the Farewell Pilgrimage, his parting counsels, the onset and progression of his terminal illness, appointing Abu Bakr to lead the prayers, his deathbed testaments, choosing the highest companion (al-rafiq al-a'la), dying as a martyr, the bereavement of the Muslim community, and his inheritance.
- Rights over the Community: Chapter 33 outlines the duties Muslims owe him, including sincere belief in his mission, obedience to his commands, referring disputes to his judgment, avoiding theological excess (ghuluww) or negligence, following his exemplar, loving him above oneself and all creation, honoring him, defending his Sunnah, and frequently invoking blessings upon him.
Methodology
The author constructs his discussions using direct textual citations from the Quran and hadith literature, referencing standard collections including Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud, Sunan al-Nasa'i, Jami' al-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Musnad Ahmad. For conceptual definitions of prophetic rights, he also draws on classical reference works such as Kitab al-Shifa by al-Qadi Iyad.
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