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Do You Know This Man?
(
http://al-sunnah.com/
)
History has recorded the appearance and deeds of
many religious leaders: Moses, Jesus Christ and
Abraham, to name just a few. There have also been
many self-proclaimed prophets and messengers, each
of whom has claimed to bring a divine revelation for
mankind. Some have proven to be false, and others
have been forgotten. But there is one religious
leader who stands alone, an unlettered man who
transmitted a revelation from God that literally
changed the course of history and the destinies of a
major portion of mankind: Muhammad, the Prophet and
Messenger of God.
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA confirms:
"...a mass of detail in the early sources shows that
he was an honest and upright man who had gained the
respect and loyalty of others who were likewise
honest and upright men." (Vol. 12)
BERNARD SHAW said about him:
"He must be called the Saviour of humanity I believe
that if a man like him were to assume the
dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed
in solving its problems in a way that would bring it
much needed peace and happiness." (The Genuine
Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. X 1936)
He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set
foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded
a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code,
initiated numerous social and political reforms,
established a powerful and dynamic society to
practice and represent his teachings, and completely
revolutionized the worlds of human thought and
behaviour for all time to come.
"HIS NAME IS
MUHAMMAD "
May the Peace of God Be upon Him (PBUH)
Born in Arabia in the year 570 CE, Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be upon him) started his mission of preaching
Islam, the religion of truth and the submission of
man to one God, at the age of forty and died at the
age of sixty-three. During the short twenty-three
year period of his prophethood, Muhammad changed the
entire Arabian Peninsula forever. Within the space
of one generation, the vast majority of people went
from paganism and idolatry to devout and strict
monotheism, from tribal quarrels and wars to
national solidarity and cohesion, from drunkenness
and debauchery to sobriety and piety, from
lawlessness and anarchy to a lifestyle characterized
by discipline, from moral bankruptcy to the highest
standards of moral excellence. Human history has
never seen such a complete transformation of a
people or a place before or since—and just IMAGINE
that all of these unbelievable wonders took place in
JUST OVER TWO DECADES and because of the efforts of
one man. The renowned historian Lamartine, when
speaking on the essentials of human greatness,
wonders: "If greatness of purpose, smallness of
means and astounding results are the three criteria
of human genius, who could dare to compare any great
man in modern history with Prophet Muhammad (peace
be upon him)? The most famous men created arms, laws
and empires only they founded, if anything at all,
no more than material powers which often crumbled
away before their eyes. This man moved not only
armies, legislation, empires, peoples and dynasties
but millions of men in one-third of the
then-inhabited world; and more than that, he moved
the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the
beliefs and souls.... his forbearance in victory,
his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea
and in no manner striving for an empire; his endless
prayers; his supplications to God; his death and his
triumph after death; all these attest not to an
imposture but to a firm conviction which gave him
the power to restore a dogma. This dogma was
two-fold: the unity of God and the immateriality of
God-the former telling what God is, the latter
telling what God is not; the one overthrowing false
gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with
the words. Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator,
warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational
dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of
twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual
empire: that is PROPHET MUHAMMAD (peace be upon
him). As regards all the standards by which human
greatness may be measured, we may well ask IS THERE
ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?"
(Lamartine: Histoire de la Turquie, Paris,
1854Vol.11, pp 276-277).
The world has had its share of great personalities.
But these were one-sided figures who distinguished
themselves in only one or two fields, such as
religious thought or military leadership. The lives
and teachings of these great personalities are
shrouded in the mists of time. There is so much
speculation about the time and place of their birth,
the mode and style of their life, the nature and
detail of their teachings, and the degree and
measure of their success or failure that it is
impossible for humanity to reconstruct accurately
the lives and teachings of these men.
Not so this man The Prophet Muhammad accomplished so
much in so many fields of human thought and
behaviour in the fullest blaze of human history.
Every detail of his private life and public
utterances has been accurately documented and
faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of
the records so preserved are vouched for not only by
the faithful followers but even by his prejudiced
critics. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was a
religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide,
an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a
wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving
father—all in one. No other man in history ever
excelled or equalled him in any of these different
aspects of life— but it was only for the selfless
personality of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
to achieve such incredible perfection. Mahatma
Gandhi, speaking on the character of Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him), says in Young India:
"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today
undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of
mankind....I became more than convinced that it was
not the sword that won a place for Islam in those
days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid
simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the
Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his
intense devotion to his friends and followers, his
intrepidness, his fearlessness, his absolute trust
in God and in his own mission. These and not the
sword carried everything before them and surmounted
every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the
Prophet's biography) I was sorry there was not more
for me to read of the great life." Thomas Carlyle,
in his Heroes and Hero-worship, was simply amazed as
to "how one man single-handedly could weld tribes
and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and
civilized nation in less than two decades." Diwan
Chand Sharma wrote: "Muhammad was the soul of
kindness and his influence was felt and never
forgotten by those around him. "
(D. C. Sharma, The Prophets of the East, Calcutta
1935, pp. 12)
Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley, speaking on
the profession of Islam wrote: "I believe in one
God, and Mahomet, a Apostle of God" is the simple
and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual
image of the Deity has never been degraded by any
visible idol; the honour of the Prophet has never
transgressed the measure of human virtues; and his
living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his
disciples within the bounds or reason and religion."
(History of the Saracen Empires, London, 1870, p.
54). Muhammad was nothing more or less than a human
being but he was a man with a noble mission, one
which was to unite all human beings on the worship
of the one and only God and to teach them the way to
honest and upright living based on the commands of
God. He always described himself as "a servant and
messenger of God," and every single one of his
actions proclaimed loudly the truth of this phrase.
Speaking on the aspect of equality before God in
Islam, the famous Indian poetess Sarojini Naidu
says: "It was the first religion that preached
and practiced democracy for, in the mosque when the
call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are
gathered together, the democracy of Islam is
embodied five times a day when the peasant and king
kneel side by side and proclaim: "God Alone is
Great." I have been struck over and over again by
this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man
instinctively a brother. (S. Naidu, "Ideals of
Islam," vide Speeches ~ Writings, Madras, 1918, p.
169). In the words of Prof. Hurgronje: "The League
of Nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the
principle of international unity and human
brotherhood on such universal foundations as to show
candle to other nations ... the fact is that no
nation of the world can show a parallel to what
Islam has done towards the realization of the idea
of the League of Nations. "The world has not
hesitated to raise to divinity individuals whose
lives and missions have been lost in legend.
Historically speaking, none of these legends
achieved even a fraction of what Muhammad
accomplished. And all of his striving was for the
sole purpose of uniting mankind for the worship of
the one God on the codes of moral excellence.
Muhammad or his followers never at any time claimed
that he was a son of God, a God-incarnate, or a man
having a divine nature-he always was and is even
today considered as only a human messenger chosen by
God.
Michael H. Hart, in his recently published
book on the rating of individuals who have
contributed towards the benefit and advancement of
mankind writes: "My choice of Muhammad to lead the
list of the world's most influential persons may
surprise some readers and may be questioned by
others, but he was the only man in history who was
supremely successful on both the religious and
secular levels. (MH. Hart, The 100: A Ranking of the
Most Influential Persons in History, New York, 1978,
pp. 33) Today even after a lapse of fourteen
century, the life and teachings of Muhammad have
survived without the slightest loss, alteration, or
interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for
treating mankind's many ills that they did when he
was alive. This is not a claim of Muhammad's
followers but also the inescapable conclusion
reached by a critical and unbiased study of human
history. Maybe it is time for you to get to know
this outstanding person who has influenced the life
of billions of people over the last fourteen
hundred years. He could also change your life.
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Mu
h a m m a d :
(
by
WWW.WAMY.CO.UK )
A role model for a new millennium
The human need for role
models
Have you ever heard of Moses, Jesus, Confucius,
Krishna or the Buddha? How about Gandhi, Mother
Theresa or Martin Luther King? If you live in the
West, there's a good chance that you know a bit
about these people and their accomplishments. In
man's eternal search for immortality and meaning,
many leaders and heroes, both true and false, have
made their appearance on the world stage. The
respect and reverence shown to such figures among
people of every nationality, in every age, points to
a deep human need to believe in someone greater than
oneself, in an attempt to transcend the confines of
one's own limited existence. We see this theme recur
in world myths, legends, hero stories, and in the
idealisation of people who have been raised by their
followers to superhuman or godly status.
Most educated people today are sceptics,
and view such stories as the charming remnants of a
simpler age. And with globalisation and the steady
stream of new religions and ideologies that people
are exposed to, it may be hard to know what to
believe. Some find it easier to ignore spiritual
questions altogether, focusing instead on their
relationships, careers and 'getting ahead'. Yet we
know that excessive materialism stifles the mind and
spirit; despite technological advances, the deep
yearning to believe in a Higher Power, true
leadership, and an ultimate purpose in life remains.
In this day and age, who can be trusted as a guide
in both spiritual and worldly matters?
There is one leader,
still largely unknown to the West, who is an
extraordinary role model that people of all
backgrounds can relate to: the Prophet Muhammad. The
details of Muhammad's remarkable life have been
carefully preserved and have been subjected to the
scrutiny of historians, east and west. In contrast
to others who have achieved renown for their
accomplishments in a limited sphere of activity,
Muhammad's achievements span all major areas of
life. The historian Michael H. Hart wrote:
My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the
world's most influential persons may surprise some
readers and be questioned by others, but he was the
only man in history who was supremely successful on
both the religious and secular levels.
Hart, Michael, The 100: A Ranking of the Most
Influential Persons in History
Why does the average European or American know so
little about a man whose life was so exceptional?
Irrational fears and negative propaganda, dating
back to the Crusades and exaggerated by the media,
have created a 'mental block' for many people
against all things Arab or Islamic, and the two
terms are often mistakenly confused. As we enter the
age of the global village, is it not time for those
who pride themselves on being unprejudiced,
independent thinkers to put aside these mental
relics from a bygone era? We invite you to take a
few minutes to explore a new understanding of
religious leadership, and in so doing, to catch a
glimpse of a man who is loved by one-fifth of the
people on this planet.
The concept of prophethood
in Islam
For a Muslim, a Prophet does not primarily imply
someone able to foretell the future - although most
of Muhammad's predictions have already been
fulfilled in astonishing ways - but a man sent by
God to call people to repent, have faith, and
dedicate their lives to doing good, thereby helping
them rediscover the purpose for which they were
created. Prophets are not considered to be Divine,
and are not prayed to or worshipped - though they
were men of outstanding character and spirituality
who were protected from committing sins, performed
miracles, received revelation and communed with God.
Islam teaches that God is One, without partner or
associate; no human being can share in any of the
qualities that are unique to the Intelligent Creator
and Sustainer of our vast and complex universe.
Muhammad was no more than God's honoured servant and
Messenger, yet he embodied the best of human
potential, and that is what continues to make him so
appealing and accessible today. Last in a line of
Prophets and Messengers sent by God to all people on
earth - including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus -
who effected the large-scale transformation of
individuals and society, Muhammad was unsurpassed as
teacher and guide. Speaking of his own role as the
last true Prophet before Judgement Day, he said:
'The parable of me in relation to the Prophets who
came before me is that of a man who built a house
beautifully and well, except that one brick in its
corner was missing. The people went around it and
wondered at its beauty, but said: "If only that
brick were put in its place!" I am that brick, and I
am the last of the Prophets.'
Muhammad's personal life
Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a noble family of
Makkah, and was a descendant of the Prophet Abraham.
Orphaned at six, Muhammad was a thoughtful youth who
worked as a shepherd and helped his uncle with the
trade caravans. As a teenager he rejected the
immoral customs of his people, who had become
steeped in idolatry, and joined a chivalrous order,
earning the nickname 'The Trustworthy'. At age 25 he
found employment with a wealthy widow of 40 named
Khadijah, managing her business. Impressed by his
honesty and character, Khadijah proposed marriage
and he accepted. Despite their age difference, they
were happily married for 25 years, and were blessed
with six children. After Khadijah's death Muhammad
married several women for political and humanitarian
reasons, as was expected of a man of his position;
all but one were widows and divorcees. He was a
loving and considerate husband and father, and his
family was devoted to him despite his voluntary
poverty, for he put into practice his own advice,
'the best of you is the one who is best to his own
family.'
Muhammad, the Prophet
Muhammad received his first revelation from God at
40, through the Angel Gabriel. He continued to
receive revelations for 23 years, on topics ranging
from the Oneness of God and His wondrous handiwork,
to stories of earlier prophets, morality and ethics,
and life after death. These revelations became
collectively known as the Qur'an, and are considered
by Muslims to be the literal word of God; the
Prophet's own words were collected separately.
Muhammad's call to monotheism and social reform was
heavily opposed by the Makkan elite; after enduring
thirteen years of intense persecution, he and his
followers were invited to relocate to Madinah, a
town to the north that had been torn apart by
generations of intertribal warfare. Muhammad
successfully settled their differences and forged a
bond of brotherhood between the two warring
factions, as well as between the locals and the new
emigrants. For Arab tribal society, this was an
amazing accomplishment. The early Muslims learned to
implement the golden rule under the Prophet's
tutelage: 'No one truly believes until he desires
for his brother what he desires for himself.'
Muhammad's legacy: the
Madinan model
For Muhammad, religion was not a matter of personal
conviction alone but a complete way of life, and
Madinah flourished under his leadership. The Madinan
model of government, based on justice, respect for
human dignity and God-consciousness, became the
template to which Muslims have looked for guidance
and inspiration ever since. The Prophet drew up the
world's first constitution in which the rights of
religious minorities were protected, and entered
into treaties and alliances with neighbouring
tribes. He sent letters to the rulers of the
Persians, Egyptians, Abyssinians and Byzantines,
announcing his message of pure monotheism and
inviting them to accept Islam. For the first time in
history, women, children, orphans, foreigners and
slaves were granted extensive rights and protection.
Many of the Prophet's concerns seem surprisingly
'modern': he condemned racism and nationalism,
saying 'there is no superiority of an Arab over a
non-Arab, or a white man over a black man, except in
righteousness.' He established laws protecting
animals, trees and the environment. He encouraged
free trade and ethical investments, but secured
workers' rights and forbade usury. He worked for
peace, but defined the parameters of the judicious
use of force, when force was needed. He convinced
people to give up alcohol, drugs, prostitution and
crime, and promoted healthy living. He condemned
domestic violence, encouraged his wives to speak
their own mind, and granted Muslim women many rights
not dreamed of in Europe until centuries later,
including the right to own property, reject arranged
marriages, and seek divorce because of
incompatibility. And the Prophet encouraged his
followers to seek beneficial knowledge wherever it
could be found, with the result that Muslims never
experienced a conflict between science and religion,
and led the world in many fields of learning for
centuries afterwards. Although his enduring legacy
can be observed in everything from art to politics,
Muhammad's greatest achievement by far was to
re-establish pure monotheism. As simple and
straightforward to understand as the nucleus at the
centre of an atom, the concept of One God lies at
the heart of Islamic culture. Muslims turn to their
Creator for guidance, without the need for
intermediaries, or the loss of dignity that idolatry
and superstition bring.
The Prophet accomplished all this through the
strength of his character and personal example; he
inspired in his followers a love, devotion and sense
of awe that was unparalleled. While other men would
have been corrupted by the absolute power that he
wielded in his later years, Muhammad remained
humble, ever aware of the Source of his blessings.
'I am just God's servant,' he said, and 'I have only
been sent as a teacher.' Although he spent his days
in serving people and his nights in prayer, he
preached religious moderation and balance; he
forbade his followers to adopt a monastic lifestyle
and preferred that they establish strong families
and engage themselves in bettering the world around
them, while remaining deeply conscious of God.
In the brief space of one generation and during his
own lifetime, the Prophet Muhammad* successfully
transformed the faith, mentality and culture of the
people of Arabia; within 100 years his message had
touched the hearts and lives of millions in Africa,
Asia and parts of Europe. The Prophet foretold that
each succeeding generation would be worse than the
one before it, and true to his prediction, Muslims
have not always understood or honoured his example.
But Muhammad's teachings, speeches and customs were
carefully noted down by his Companions, and compiled
into books of authentic sayings which are available
in translation. Along with the Qur'an, they form the
holistic foundation of a satisfying way of life for
practising Muslims, while for others, they provide a
fascinating glimpse into the heart and mind of an
exceptional man and role model from whom much can be
learned.
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