This audio is brought to you by MuslimCentral.com

Why study the Syirah? Why should you be interested in the Syirah? Why spend our time coming here and understanding the Syirah of the Prophets Allahu alaihi wa sallam?

Well the benefits are numerous. First and foremost, Allah has commanded us to know this man.

This is an obligation that Allah has put upon us. We have to know this person and there are over 50 verses in the Qur'an that command us to take the Prophets as an example.

Indeed, there is for you a perfect conduct. Uswa means something you follow. Hassan means a perfect.

You have in the Prophets Allahu alaihi wa sallam the perfect example to follow. And therefore, the study of the life and times of the Prophet Allahu alaihi wa sallam is the study of somebody we need to follow.

And the amazing thing, no matter which angle you look at the life and times of the Prophet, you will benefit from that.

So of the perfection of Allah's wisdom is that he sends human beings, flesh and blood, people like ourselves, born of women, married and having children just like us.

But the difference is they are chosen by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and they are made role models and examples.

Another blessing of studying the Syirah is that the Syirah is the number one way to increase our love for the Prophet Allahu alaihi wa sallam.

The number one way there is really no other way as effectively and as powerfully to increase our love for the Prophet's system then by studying his life and his times.

And so by studying the Syirah, our love for the Prophet Allahu alaihi wa sallam increases and conversely it demonstrates our love.

It's a two way street. When you study your love goes up. In order for you love to go up, you need to study. And if you truly love this man, you will study him.

And that is because a sign of loving someone is to want to know more about them. A sign of loving somebody is to want to know more about that person.

This is human nature. Understanding the Syirah also helps us to understand the Qur'an.

Because the Qur'an is a very complex book. It's a very profound book and it cannot be understood without context.

You cannot understand without context. So by studying the Syirah, the Qur'an gains meaning profundity. Without the Syirah, the Qur'an is our context.

Without context, you will never appreciate the Qur'an. Another benefit of studying the Syirah, the Syirah raises our hopes, lifts our spirit and blesses us with optimism.

Especially in our times when we're facing Islamophobia, we're facing a little bit of persecution. Well, Allah He took all that persecution is even embarrassing.

When we look at what the Prophet ﷺ and the early Sahaba suffered, we in America are not being persecuted in that sense.

Nonetheless, times have changed for the last ten years. And things are happening now. We're facing a little bit of the heat.

We need a source of direction, a source of optimism. And by studying the Syirah, we can understand that the people before us suffered even more.

...