Prophet Muhammad (SAW); His Continuous Legacy and its Impact

As tragic as death is, I have always been someone to value the heartwarming stories people share about their departed loved ones. I smile as those stories shift from the focus of the loss, transitioning into remembering their efforts in goodness. I perceive the definition of legacies to begin with memory and progress to the potential impact of these stories as ultimately, that is what they are remembered for. The multitudes may vary but each output is a positive reminder.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word “legacy” is defined as: “the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.” By that understanding, as a Muslim, my mind instantly led me to remember a beloved person in our Islamic past, and specifically, his long-lasting impact that continues today.

Let us begin by recalling the main purpose of the believers in Islam: to remember and please Allah SWT through the progression of our words and actions, living completely for His sake. Who is an example of such a righteous Muslim, beloved by Allah SWT, and a continuous example for us today?

“Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah much.” (Quran 33: 21)

A person’s legacy is remembered as something achieved through their efforts in the past. Such a narrative applies to the Prophet SAW, but I wonder if people frequently reflect on the impact such legacies have on our current lives and how their efforts shape our legacies.

I believe the Prophet SAW, as a religious leader, exemplifies a person who left a legacy with a growing influence that continues to shape his Ummah’s legacies as well. His legacy is like a tree from which the seeds fall and bloom into more trees— our legacies—and grow into a huge, beautiful forest—the Muslim Ummah. His role as the leader of our Ummah means we are exposed to the ways in which he SAW lived, actions we call Sunnah, exemplifying how we should act today.

PHOTO // PIXABAY

This described influence is a perspective of mine that I attempt to follow in his SAW Sunnah as much as I can. The more I have learned about the life of Prophet Muhammad SAW, the more I am exposed to how he SAW would not allow the world we live in today—filled with humanly desires and broaching the thin line of ingratitude—to break his faith in Islam or change his relationship with Allah SWT. That is the expectation I set for myself.

Throughout my life, I have been exposed to the impact I describe in multiple ways, although there is one in particular that stands out to me as it was at one of my lowest moments. At the beginning of my last semester of high school, I began to feel what is widely described as “senioritis.” Along with the struggle in motivation for school, parts of my social life had undergone plot-twists and within two months, the negative feelings these issues created for me, began to increase. I was constantly stressed, confused, and felt as if I was falling behind. What shocked me the most was that I was not acting any differently in my energy, that I knew of, but it came to a point, my teachers asked me if I was okay.

One night, my friend was checking up on me and she said, “Remember, Allah SWT puts his strongest soldier through the toughest battles.” Comfort began to fill my heart. It was later that I was on Pinterest, looking for a possible picture of this quote to put the beautiful reminder on my phone’s lock-screen, that I landed on a picture with the writing of this hadith,

“Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas reported: I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, which people are tested most severely?’ The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘They are the prophets, then the next best, then the next best. A man is put to trial according to his religion. If he is firm in his religion, his trials will be more severe. If he is weak in his religion, he is put to trial according to his strength in religion. The servant will continue to be put to trial until he is left walking upon the earth without any sin.’” (Jami

al-Tirmidhi 2398)

After reading this hadith, I began to see my worldly struggles differently. Suddenly, they became very small in comparison to my faith. I felt extremely thankful for my struggles that led me to this beautiful moment. The perspective of my struggles being something negative happening to me changed to being seen as tests from Allah SWT. I remembered that Allah SWT tests the ones He loves, and it mattered not what the struggles were but how I responded to the struggles. The great impact that this hadith had on me then, continues with me today. It changed my view on worldly struggles as a whole and I carry this reminder with me every time.

Hardship is inevitable in this world but seeking knowledge in Islam, through the word of Allah SWT and His messenger SAW teaches us how we can deal with it. Prophet Muhammad SAW set a beautiful example for us, especially through his sabr (patience).

When a Muslim friend confides in me with their struggles, I spread the teachings of Islam to them, sharing this hadith

Thus, to solely recognize Prophet Muhammad’s SAW legacy for the things he did in his time is an understatement. As seen through my example, his life continuously assists in the forming of the legacies left by each individual in the Muslim Ummah since we are influenced by him.

In an attempt to follow in his Sunnah, I wonder, if I was in the presence of Prophet Muhammad SAW, what would I want him to see of me? Surely, I would want him to see his reflection. I am simply one of the many trees who continues to bloom through the impact of his legacy and I intend to stay amongst the forest of our ever-flourishing Ummah, so long as Allah SWT permits it.