Editor’s note: The following text is not strictly verbatim transcript of the video. Some editorial modification were made to make the text publishable as an article.

A great scholar, Imam Ibn Taimyah, said that the heart thirsts for Allah more than the stomach thirsts for drink and food. So some of us have come here with that thirst; how can we quench that thirst and then move forward?

One of the ways is to talk about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), our leader and example. How incredible it is to have someone like that as our teacher!

So, let’s try to take this important moment of talking about the Prophet more beyond than emotional connection. We want the tears that stream from our faces be followed by the actions of our lives. Let’s try to actualize this mercy in our lives so that we can be standard bearers of mercy.

The Prophet said that Allah is merciful to merciful people. He commanded us to be merciful to those on the face of the earth so that Allah Almighty will be merciful to us.

I just want to share with you some ideas on one verse of the Quran that talks about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). In the Quran, Allah Almighty talks about the Prophet in a number of places. In one verse in particular the way that He talks about the Prophet is so powerful. I hope my weak English-language will be able to express to you the power of this verse. Allah says about the Prophet in the chapter called Al-Qalam (The Pen):

{And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character.} (Al-Qalam 68:4)

In Arabic the word `ala or “on” in the above translation, can only be applied to something tangible. So I could say, “I left the Pepsi on the table,” or, “I climbed on the mountain.” But `ala (on) in Arabic is not used for something that is intangible like concepts: e.g. love, mercy, character, etc.

Yet, here in this verse of the Quran, Allah says that you are on good character. When my teacher from Al-Azhar University, Dr. Abdulrahman Hijazzy, a great teacher and someone who had a great influence on me, explained this first to me, literally I almost melted. My heart was so overcome by the way he explained it to me and I hope I can share that with you.

This is just one verse talking about the Prophet; look how powerful is; look how meaningful it is; how it touches your heart; how it pierces all the sorrows, all the sins, all the difficulties we find ourselves in and gives a sense of upliftment. He said to me that this verse is talking about the Prophet’s character as though he ascended…he was ON good character.

This is used in rhetoric to show as though if you were to look at all of the noble characters that you know; if you are to look at all of the wonderful examples of people you would find that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) on the top. If these examples are like a mountain, the Prophet is the summit of good character. That’s the secret behind the usage of on `ala in this verse.

So, as I finish I want to encourage you to do the following:

1. Don’t let this talk be a proof against you but let it be a proof for you. Make a commitment from this point on in your life that you will do your best. I also will make that commitment that we will try our best, all of us. Don’t think I’m just speaking down to you; I also have a number of mistakes and problems just like you do. But the point is that from this day forward, let’s try to seriously change our relationship with our Creator and with the creation.

The Prophet once asked his Companions if one took a bath five times a day, would he be dirty?

2. Let’s look after our prayers. The mercy comes from following the Prophet’s injunction and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said on his deathbed, “As-Salah, As-Salah!” That means, “Be mindful of your prayers. Look after your prayers!”

His Companions answered, “No”

So, he said that such was the example of the five daily prayers. That prayer is the body of mercy that the Prophet left to us.

3. We should try to start programs in our community that benefit the people who live around us. We can no longer tell non-Muslims that Islam means peace; we have people blowing up and killing people in the name of Islam. We can no longer tell people that Islam means peace while they see these radicalized elements on television.

What we have to do is counter these bad acts with noble. One of the best things that we can do is to look after the people in our community.

Thank you for your time. May Allah bless you! I love you all.