WHO IS MOUHAMED
Table of Contents
Judge by Yourself
Introduction
Why this Book:
..........................................................................................................17
Basic Definitions
Who is the Muslim?
.................................................................................................19
Do Muslims Now Represent the Thoughts of
Muhammad (PBUH)? ..........19
What is the Concept of the
"Prophet" for Muslims ? ....................................... 20
Are Muslims Bad People?
....................................................................................
20
come from a bad man who wants to harm
people?! ...................................... 20
Do Muslims Accept Others (non-Muslims)?
.................................................... 20
Fellowships
Muhammad (PBUH) as a Husband:
................................................................... 22
Muhammad (PBUH) as a Father:
....................................................................... 22
Muhammad (PBUH) as a Grandfather:
............................................................ 23
Muhammad (PBUH) with Children:
.................................................................... 23
Muhammad (PBUH) with Women:
..................................................................... 24
Muhammad (PBUH) with his Relatives:
............................................................ 25
Muhammad (PBUH) as a Visitor:
........................................................................ 25
With the Orphans:
..................................................................................................
26
With the Needy:
.................................................................................................
26
With his Neighbors
................................................................................................
27
With the Parents:
....................................................................................................
28
Dealings
Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a Seller.
.................................................. 30
Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a Buyer.
................................................. 30
Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a
Covenanter. ........................................ 31
Muhammad (peace be upon him) in War.
.......................................................... 31
Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the
People of the Scripture
(Jews & Christians) ...............................................................................................
31
Morals
Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a
Trustworthy (and Honest). .............. 33
Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a Truthful
Person. ................................ 34
Muhammad (PBUH) the Speaker
........................................................................ 34
Muhammad (PBUH) the Wise
Patient Man: ...................................................... 35
Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) the
Companion: ....................................... 35
Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) the Modest:
.............................................. 36
Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him Kind to
Everyone Around Him Even to Animals ................................................................................................................
36
Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him the Merciful
Man: .......................................37
Muhammad ( Peace Be Upon Him) the Ascetic:
............................................. 37
Muhammad (PBUH) bedding farewell :
............................................................. 39
Muhammad(PBUH) the Grateful :
....................................................................... 40
Muhammad (PBUH) being Justice:
......................................................................40
Good Manners
Muhammad (PBUH) as a Teacher
..................................................................... 42
Muhammad (PBUH) while Eating ........................................................................
42
Muhammad(PBUH)while Drinking:
..................................................................... 43
Muhammad (PBUH) with Illness:
......................................................................... 43
Muhammad (Peace be upon him) Traveling.
.....................................................43
Muhammad(Peace be upon him) Walking:
....................................................... 44
The Worships
Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in his
Prayers. ......................................... 45
Muhammad (peace be upon to him) Talking to
Allah: ............................... 45
The Simple Life of Muhammad (PBUHThe Prophet (PBUH)
Gave Glad Tidings during the Hardest of Situations
The Prophet (PBUH) in Ta'if
..................................................................................
50
The Battle of the Ditch
...........................................................................................
51
Prophet Muhammad, a Simple Man
Some of the Prophet’s Teachings
Purity of Self
...........................................................................................................
55
Obedience to Parents
...........................................................................................
56
Behavior with Relatives
.........................................................................................
56
Bringing up Daughters
..........................................................................................
56
Bringing up Orphans
.............................................................................................
57
Obedience to Rulers .............................................................................................
57
Kindness
..................................................................................................................
57
Evils of Begging
......................................................................................................
57
Cooperation
.............................................................................................................
57
The Greatness of Learning
..................................................................................
58
Treatment of Slaves, Women Servants and
Attendants ............................... 58
Examples of the Prophet’s Mercy upon non-Muslims
Ex. No. (1)
...............................................................................................................
59
Ex. No. (2):
..............................................................................................................
59
Ex. No. (3):
..............................................................................................................
59
Ex. No. (4):
...............................................................................................................
60
Ex. No. (5):
.............................................................................................................
60
Ex. No. (6):
..............................................................................................................
61
Ex. No. (7):
..............................................................................................................
62
Ex. No. (8):
..............................................................................................................
62
Ex. No. (9):
...............................................................................................................62
Ex. No. (10):
............................................................................................................
62
Ex. No. (11):
............................................................................................................
63
Ex. No. (12):
............................................................................................................
63
What did Prophet Muhammad do? Yusef Estes
How can we discover the truth and be totally honest in
our judgment?..... 64
What Did Muhammad Say? Yusuf Estes
What did his Followers say? Yusuf Estes
What do Muslims say about Muhammad? Yusuf Estes
Muhammad, peace be upon him, the last Messenger
of Allah
Comparing Jesus & Muhammad - peace be upon them.
Yusuf Estes
Comparing Jesus & Muhammad
........................................................................ 89
Who is THAT Prophet?
.........................................................................................
90
Do you know this Man? Yusuf Estes
Muhammed – A Brief Description
.................................................................... 93
You Must Know This MAN - MUHAMMAD (peace
be upon him). .............. 93
"HIS NAME IS MUHAMMAD" (peace
be upon him) ...................................... 93
8
Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib Born 570 C.E.
(Christian Era); died 633 C.E.
The following is based on books,
manuscripts, texts and actual eyewitess accounts, too numerous to mention herein,
preserved in orignal form throughout the centuries by both Muslims and
non-Muslims.
Many people today are discussing Prophet
Muhammad, may Allah his mention. Who was he exactly? What did he teach? Why was
he loved so much by some and hated so much by others? Did he live up to his
claims? Was he a holy man? Was he a prophet of God? What is the truth about
this man? You be the judge.
Here are the facts as narrated by
thousands of people, many of whom knew him personally. He was born to a noble
tribe to the lineage of the leaders of Makkah.
* His name comes from the Arabic root "hamd " and
literally means "praised
one." People at his time and until
this very moment, praise him many times
per day, may Allah exalt his mention.
* He never fell into the common practice of his tribesmen to worship
statues,
idols or man-made "gods."
* He believed that God was truly One God, and as such, He was to be
worshipped alone, without any other
"gods" beside Him.
* He held the Name of God in the highest of reverence and never took
God's
ame in vain or for any vain glorious
purpose.
* He despised false worship and all of the complexities and degradation
to
which it leads.
Judge by Yourself
By Yusuf Estes, Former Christian Preacher
9 He adhered to the
Commandments of Almighty God, just as prophets of old
had done in the past.
* He never committed adultery, and he forbade others from doing it.
* He forbade usury and interest on money lending, as Jesus, may
Allah exalt
his mention, had done centuries before
him.
* He never gambled and did not allow it.
* He never drank alcohol or strong drink;
even though it was a very normal
thing for people of his time and place.
* He did not engage in gossip and used to turn away from hearing
anything
related to it.
* He fasted for days at a time to be closer to Almighty God and away
from the
narrowness of worldly attractions.
* He taught that Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, was the
immaculate
conception and miracle birth of Mary, and
that she was among the best
creation of Almighty God.
* He insisted even to the Jews of Medina, that Jesus, may Allah
exalt his
mention, was the Messiah, the Christ, the
one predicted to come in their
Torah (Old Testament).
* He said Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, did many miracles by
the
permission of Almighty God, curing the
lepers, restoring sight to the blind
and even bringing a dead man back to life.
* He stated clearly that Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, was not
dead,
rather Almighty God had raised him up.
* He foretold that Jesus, may Allah exalt his mention, is going to
return again
in the Last Days to lead the true
believers in a victory over the evil and
unrighteous people, and he will destroy
the Anti-Christ.
* He commanded the payment of charity to the poor and he was the
defender
and protector of widows,
orphans and the wayfarers.
10 * He ordered people to unite with their families and honor
the ties of kinship
and he restored relationships between
family members.
* He required his followers to engage only in lawful marriage
relationships
with women, and forbade sex outside of
Almighty God's Ordinance.
* He insisted on giving women their proper rights, dowries,
inheritance and
property.
* His patience and humble attitude were exemplary and all who knew
him had
to admit to these virtues.
A. He never lied, never broke a trust never bore false witness, and
he was
famous with all the tribes in Makkah and
was known as: "The Truthful" (Al-
Ameen).
B. He never once engaged in sex outside of marriage, nor did he
ever
approve of it, even though it was very
common at the time.
C. His only relationships with women were in legitimate,
contractual marriages with proper witnesses according to law.
D. His relationship to Ayesha was only that of marriage. Their
relationship
is described in every detail by Ayesha
herself in the most loving and respectful manner as a match truly made in
heaven. Ayesha is considered as one of the highest scholars of Islam and lived
out her entire life only having been married to Muhammad, may Allah exalt his
mention. She never desired any other man, nor did she ever utter a single
negative statement against Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention.
E. He forbade any killing until the orders came from Allah. Even then
the limits were clearly spelled out and only those engaged in active combat
against the Muslims or Islam were to be fought in combat. And even then, only
according to very strict rules from Allah.
F. Killing any innocent life was forbidden.
G. There was no genocide of Jews. He offered mutual protection and
forgiveness to the Jews even after they broke their covenants with him many
times. They were not attacked until it was
clearly proven they were traitors during time of war and tried to bring down
the prophet, may Allah exalt his mention, and the Muslims at any cost.
Retaliation was only to those Jews who had turned traitor and not others.
H. Slaves were common in those days for
all nations and tribes. It was Islam that encouraged freeing of the slaves and
the great reward from Allah for those who did so. Prophet, may Allah exalt his
mention, gave the example of this by freeing slaves and encouraging all of his
followers to do the same. Examples include his own servant (who was actually
considered like a son to him) Zaid ibn Al Haritha and Bilal the slave who was
bought by Abu Bakr only for the purpose of freeing him.
I. While there were many attempts of assassination made on Muhammad,
may Allah exalt his mention, (most famous was the night that Ali took his place
in bed while he and Abu Bakr escaped to Madinah), he did not allow his
companions to slaughter any of those who had been involved in these attempts.
Proof for this is when they entered Makkah triumphantly and his first words
were to command his followers not to harm such and such tribes and so and so
families. This was one of the most famous of his acts of forgiveness and
humbleness.
J. Military combat was forbidden for the first thirteen years of prophethood.
The desert Arabs did not need anyone to tell them how to fight or do combat.
They were experts in this area and held feuds amongst tribes that lasted for
decades. It was not until the proper method of warfare was instituted by Allah
in the Quran, with proper rights and limitations according His Commandments,
that any retaliation or combat was sanctioned. Orders from Allah made it clear
who was to be attacked, how and when and to what extent fighting could take
place.
K. Destruction of infrastructures is absolutely forbidden except when
it is ordained by Allah in certain instances and then only according to His
Commands.
L. Cursing and invoking evil actually came to the prophet, may Allah
exalt his mention, from his enemies, while he would be praying for their
guidance. Classic example is that of his journey to At-Taif where the leaders
would not even hear him out nor offer so much as the normal courtesy called for
and instead they set the children of the street against him, throwing rocks and
stones at him until his body was bleeding so much, blood filled his sandals. 12
He was offered revenge by
the angel Gabriel, if he would give the command, Allah would cause the
surrounding mountains to fall down upon them destroying them all. Instead of
cursing them or asking for their destruction, he prayed for them to be guided
to worship their Lord alone, without any partners.
M. Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, claimed every
person who is born is born in a state of ISLAM (submission to God), as a Muslim
(MU-Islam means; "one who does ISLAM" i.e.; submits to God's Will and
obeys His Commandments). Then as they grow older they begin to distort their
faith according to the influence of the prevailing society and their own
prejudices.
N. Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, taught his followers to
believe in the God of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David, Solomon and
Jesus, peace be upon them all, and to believe in them as true prophets,
messengers and slaves of Almighty Allah. He insisted on ranking all the
prophets up at the highest level without any distinction between them.
O. He also taught the Torah (Old Testament), Zaboor (Psalms) and
Injeel (Gospel or New Testament) were originally from the very same source as
the Quran, from Allah.
P. He prophesied and foretold of events to
come and they happened as he had said. He even predicted something from the
past that would come true in the future, and it has.
Q. The Quran states pharaoh was drowned in the Red Sea while chasing
after Moses and Allah said He would preserve Pharaoh as a sign for the future.
Dr. Maurice Bucaille in his book, "Bible, Quran and Science " makes
it clear this has happened and the very person of Pharaoh has been discovered
in Egypt and is now on display for all to see.
R. This event took place thousands of years before Muhammad, may
Allah exalt his mention, and it came true in the last few decades, many
centuries after his death.
There has been more written about the
propha lwwdvi hdiet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, than any other
person on earth. He has been praised very high even by famous non-Muslims for
centuries. One of the first 13
examples we quote from is
from the Encyclopedia Britannica , as it confirms (regarding Muhammad)” ".
. . 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).
Another impressive tribute to Muhammad,
may Allah exalt his mention is in the very well written work of Michael H.
Hart, "The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in
History." He states that the most influential person in all history was
Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, with Jesus in the third place. Examine
his actual words: "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 level." Michael H. Hart , THE 100: A RANKING OF
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY, New York: Hart Publishing Company,
Inc., 1978, page. 33.
While we are reviewing statements from
famous non-Muslims about Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention,
consider this: "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
Muhammad. As regards all 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, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276- 277.
George Bernard Shaw, a famous writer and non-Muslim says:
"He must be called the Savior 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. 8, 1936) .
K.S. Ramakrishna Rao, an Indian (Hindu) professor of
Philosophy, in his booklet "Muhammad the Prophet of Islam" calls him
the "perfect model for human life." Professor Ramakrishna Rao explains
his point by saying: "The personality of Muhammad, it is most difficult to
get into the whole truth of it.
Only a glimpse of it I can catch. What a
dramatic succession of picturesque scenes. There is Muhammad the Prophet. There
is Muhammad the Warrior; Muhammad the Businessman; Muhammad the Statesman;
Muhammad the Orator; Muhammad the Reformer; Muhammad the Refuge of Orphans;
Muhammad the Protector of Slaves; Muhammad the Emancipator of Women; 14
Muhammad the Judge; Muhammad
the Saint. All in all these magnificent roles, in all these departments of
human activities, he is alike a hero."
Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the
character of Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention
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
intrepidity, 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 warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized
nation in less than two decades."
Diwan Chand Sharma wrote in "The Prophets of the East
": "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).
Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, was
nothing more or less than a human being, but he was a man with a noble mission,
which was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE and ONLY ONE GOD and to teach
them the
way to honest and upright living based on
the commands of God. He always described himself as, 'A Slave and Messenger of
God' and so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.
Speaking on the aspect of equality before
God in Islam, the famous poetess of India, 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). 15
In the words of Professor 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." He continues, "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."
Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley, on the profession
of ISLAM, writes in "History of the Saracen Empires" : "I
BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, AND MAHOMET, AN 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 honor of the Prophet have never
transgressed the measure of human virtues; and his living precepts have
restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and
religion." (History of the Saracen Empires , London, 1870, p. 54) .
Wolfgang Goethe, perhaps the greatest European poet ever,
wrote about Prophet Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention. He said:
"He is a prophet and not a poet and
therefore his Koran is to be seen as Divine Law and not as a book of a human
being, made for education or entertainment." (Noten und Abhandlungen zum
Weststlichen Dvan, WA I, 7, 32).
People do not hesitate to raise to
divinity and even make 'gods' out of other individuals whose lives and missions
have been lost in legend. Historically speaking, none of these legends achieved
even a fraction of what Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, accomplished.
And all his striving was for the sole purpose of uniting mankind for the
worship of One God on the codes of
moral excellence. Muhammad, may Allah
exalt his mention, or his followers never at any time claimed that he was a son
of God or the God-incarnate or a man with divinity – but he always was and is
even today considered as only a Messenger chosen by God.
Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries,
the life and teachings of Muhammad, may Allah exalt his mention, have survived
without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same
undying hope for treating mankind's many ills, which they did when he was
alive. This is not a claim of Muhammad’s, may Allah exalt his mention,
followers, but the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and
unbiased history. 16
Now it is
up to you.
You are a rational thinking, concerned
human being. As such, you should
already be asking yourself:
"Could these extraordinary,
revolutionary and amazing statements, all about
this one man, really be true?
What if this is all true?
_____________________________________________
[1] Michael H. Hart , THE 100: A RANKING
OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY, New York: Hart Publishing Company,
Inc., 1978, page. 33.
[2] Lamartine , HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE,
Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277.
[3] George Bernard Shaw , The Genuine
Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936
[4] D.C. Sharma , The Prophets of the East,
Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12
[5] S. Naidu , Ideals of Islam, vide
Speeches & Writings, Madras, 1918, p. 169
[6] Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley ,
History of the Saracen Empires, London, 1870, p. 54
[7] Noten und Abhandlungen zum
Weststlichen Dvan, WA I, 7, 3217
In the Name of Allah, the
Most-Merciful, the Most-Gracious and Peace be upon Allah's Messenger
Why this Book:
Muhammed (PBUH) came more than 1400 years
ago and said that he is receiving divine revelation from the Almighty Allah and
that he is assigned to spread this message throughout all earth, unrestricted
by time, place, race or color claiming that his message is the last between
Heaven and earth and that he is the last of Allah's Messengers and Prophets.
Who is he? Is he that terrorist that
newspapers are circulating pictures of? Or is he the organized military man who
was victorious in almost every battle he joined against his enemies?
Some books that dealt with Mohammad (PBUH)
had talked about the person who, through the course of 25 years only which is
the period of his Da'wa (the call), was able to change the face of the earth
and his call spread everywhere, such books dealt with his political and
military genius. Other books dealt with the military or Jihad side of his life
in defense of his call. Most of the books have overlooked a very important
aspect of his life (PBUH), which is his being a human, a father, a brother and
a husband.
Muslims believe that what
took place in Muhammed’s (PBUH) life regarding the aspects of social relations
is not something that he invented, but that is part of the divine revelation.
This is the reason why we have focused on this invisible or suppressed aspect
of his life (PBUH). Muhammed (PBUH) when he first started his Message (call) he
did not fight against his folk, on the contrary he and his companions were
patient and they have suffered great adversity from them. During such hard
times, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was raising his companions on such manners that
made them become kings and leaders in spite of having no interest in such
wealth.
The reason behind showing the life of
Muhammed (PBUH) in this way as represented is because of all what is said about
him (PBUH) from those who don't really know him.
So let us be objective; if you want to
judge someone you have to do the
following:
1) Hear from him personally.
2) Review his thought with sound logic.
3) If you approve of his logic, then see
if his actions go in line with such logic.
4) If that happened, then all you have to
do is to believe him. That is what
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said
"Obligation is dependant on the mind"……
so whoever is mindless has no obligation.
These are four logical steps which you are
supposed to use to judge Muhammed (PBUH). All you have to do is read the
following few papers with an objective unbiased mind and finally you would be
able to answer these confusing questions.
· Is Muhammed (PBUH) truly a terrorist?
· Is he really a prophet as he used to claim?
· Is Islam a true religion?
This book is divided into two chapters
Chapter One: Fundamental Definitions:
In order to read and understand everything
about Muhammed (PBUH), we had to find common grounds to start from, so we have
dedicated this chapter to show fundamental definitions & meanings related
to our subject like: the religion, the messenger, Allah, and Islam. To start
with such definitions is very important to understand the essence of this book.
Chapter Two: Excerpts from Allah's Messenger (PBUH)
sayings & actions:
In which we have cited many sections
dealing with Mohammed (PBUH) in various positions in a very simplified manner.
Each section is divided in two parts; the first part is entitled from the
sayings of Muhammed (PBUH) and the other is entitled from his actions. This
we've done in order to make you compare his words with his deeds, and we might
be adding some simple comments to focus on the essence of some of his sayings(
hadith) or for more explaining of meanings.19
Who is the Muslim?
The linguistic and legislative meaning of
the word "Islam" is our guide to define the meaning of the Muslim,
because when we talk about the Muslim, we don't talk about disposition or
attribute but we talk about acquired virtue, which is the Islamic virtue, that
leads us consequently to talk about Islam.
And hence the Islamic character is
completely found in Allah's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), so it is logical to take
him as the suggested model of the Muslim character. So, if you know Muhammad
(PBUH), you will find out how the real Muslim must be and how he behaves in
various situations and this is one of the aims of this book;
"to know Muhammad "PBUH" ,
and so you'll know the real Muslim."
The linguistic meaning of the word
"Muslim" is:" the one who is devoted to Allah in his worship. So
"Islam" means the complete devotion to Allah and his creed.
So, according to the definition of the
word (Islam), Islam doesn't refer to:
1- One specific person, like the way how
Buddhism refers to Buddha.
2- Or a definite nation as how Judaism
refers to a specific group of people.
3- Or to specific regions or countries as
Christianity does.
4- Or to a special period.
This word makes us live in a completely
global atmosphere , not restricted to the mission.of prophet Muhammad (PBUH),
since , from the previous definition all the prophets are Muslims and this is a
fact stated by the Quran more than once; Moses is a Muslim prophet for the
Jewish and so on are all other prophets and Apostles.
Do Muslims Now Represent the Thoughts of Muhammad (PBUH)?
To answer this question you should compare
between two periods in history; the period when the followers of Muhammad
(PBUH) spread all over the
Basic Definitions20
world possessing most of it,
and there is no question about this fact, and the
present period in which the Muslims are a
lot yet they are the most humiliated people on earth .But we have to admit that
the people of this period are completely away from the morals of Muhammad
(PBUH) and his teachings. The Prophet, for example, forbad lying, bribery,
adultery and robbery, and ordered applying justice, without oppressing others,
being merciful, supporting orphans and being generous.
All you have to do is to skim this
brochure carefully and read the sayings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his deed
to be sure that most Muslims today follow Muhammad (PBUH)only nominally.
What is the Concept of the "Prophet" for Muslims ?
The word "prophet" in the Arabic
language is an adjective from the word (Alnaba')which means news about
something important , or it is derived from the Arabic word (Alnuboa) that
means honor and reverence .So Muhammad, for Muslims, is a prophet (Nabi) and
messenger(Rasoul) from Allah Who charged him to declare the message of Islam to
be the last heavenly messages to the earth .He is the mercy that Allah saved
for His worshippers till the end of life.
Are Muslims Bad People?
Muhammad (PBUH) says: "Smiling to
your fellow Muslims is charity", and he told us about a man that will
enter paradise because he moved a tree that was blocking a road…Do such
behaviors
come from a bad man who wants to harm people?!
Muhammad was the mercy sent for all
Muslims and all mankind, as it is stated in the holy Quran "And We have
sent you: but as a mercy for all creatures ".
This explanation is enough for now as you
yourself will be able to answer this question later by reading the rest of the
subjects..
Do Muslims Accept Others (non-Muslims)?
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) concluded some
conventions with the Jewish and hold talk with the Christians, this fact is
mentioned in the Holy Quran as Allah says: "Invite (all mankind) to the
Way of your Lord (i.e. Islâm) with wisdom and fair preaching, and argue with
them in a way that is better." 21
So how is it possible to
argue others without meeting them and hold discussions with them in a way that
is clearly mentioned by Allah: "in a way that is better", i.e.: with
no aggression.
Trade has been held with the Jewish, the
evidence for this is that the prophet(PBUH)died while his shield was pledged to
a Jewish man , but all this is depending on not being a warrior against Muslims
. But, If the non-Muslim fights Muslims or drives them away from their homes or
helps in fighting and expelling them from their homes, it is obligatory for
Muslims to fight him with all lawful means .The astonishing thing is that
fighting for Muslims has an exotic law that prevents them from killing old man
, a child or a woman nor to burn a house or cut down any tree, even Muhammad
(PBUH)punished some of his companions (Allah bless them) because they didn't
apply these rights . Even more than that, Muhammad (PBUH )says: [Who slander
(one of the people of the heavenly books)will be revenged on the Day of resurrection
with whips from fire ] ????!!!!!
Consequently, If Muslims understand the
thought of Muhammad (PBUH), they will deal with the non-Muslims in the same way
the prophet (PBUH) did.22
1- Muhammad (PBUH) as a Husband:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported, the prophet (PBUH) said "among the believers who show most
perfect faith are those who have best disposition and are kindest to their
wives"………..narrated by Al-Tirmithi
From Muhammad's Life:
Amro (may Allah be pleased with him )
reported that the prophet (PBUH) was asked about the person he loves most. He
replied that it is Aisha. The man said "from men?". He replied
"her father".
2- Muhammad (PBUH) as a Father:
From Muhammad's Sayings :
Abu-Darda' (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that a man came telling him that he has a wife and that his mother
orders him to divorce her, and asked him what should he do? He replied that he
had heard the prophet (PBUH) saying that the parents represent the middle door
to paradise, so you are free to keep this opportunity or lose it…….narrated by
Al-Tirmithi
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) entered his house while his son Ibarhim
was in his last breathes. The eyes of Allah's messenger started shedding tears.
Abu-Rahman ibn Auf said "O Allah's Apostle, even you are weeping!" He
said "O Ibn Auf, this is mercy". Then he wept more & said
"the eyes are shedding tears and the heart grieves and we shall not say except
what pleases our Lord. O Ibrahim, indeed we are grieved by being separated from
you"……Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that while Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was in his last breathes he was
distressed. Fatima (may Allah bless her) said "O father, how distressed
you are!". He (PBUH) said "your father will
Fellowships23
suffer no distress after
today". When he passed away she said "O father who has answered
Allah's call. O father who will dwell in paradise. O father we announce your
death to Gabriel". When he (PBUH) was buried she said "how could you
possibly pour dust on Allah's messenger"……Narrated by Al- Bukhari.
3- Muhammad (PBUH) as a Grandfather:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Amr ibn Shoeib (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) said "Those who do not show
mercy to our young ones & do not realize the rights of our elders do not
belong to us".
From Muhammad's Life:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) was kissing Al-Hasan ibn ali while
Al-Akra' ibn Habes was with him. Al-Akra' said "I have 10 children whom I
have never kissed". Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said "He who does not show
mercy, gets no mercy"……….Agreed Upon.
4- Muhammad (PBUH) with Children:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Aisha reported that a poor woman with her
2 daughters came visiting her. Aisha gave them 3 dates. The mother gave each of
her daughters a date & while she was about to eat hers one of her daughters
asked her for another, so she divided hers in 2 halves and gave her half and
ate the other. Aisha said I admired her attitude and narrated what she did to
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) who said "Allah (the Almighty) has grated her
paradise or she was spared going to hell as a result of this"……….Narrated
by Muslim.
Reported by Abu-Kutada Al Harith, may
Allah be pleased with him, that the prophet PBUH said: “When I get up for
prayer I want to take my time in it, but when I hear a child crying I hurry up
in my prayer in the fear of disturbing his mother (who is praying behind me)”.
Narrated by Buckhari.
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that he used to greet the children as he used to see Allah's Messenger
(PBUH) doing the same……….. Agreed Upon. 24
Anas also reported that the
young girls in Madinah used to take Allah's Messenger (PBUH) by hand wherever
they want………….Narrated by Al- Bukhari
5- Muhammad (PBUH) with Women:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported that the prophet (PBUH) said: "among the believers who show
most perfect faith are those who have best disposition and are kindest to their
wives"………..narrated by Al-Tirmidhi
From Muhammad's Sayings :
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported that Allah's messenger (PBUH) said: " A believing man should
not hate his believing wife, if he dislikes one of her traits, he will be
pleased with another"……….Narrated by Muslim.
Abdullah ibn Amr (may Allah be pleased
with him) reported that Allah's Messenger said: "The whole world is a
provision, and the best object of benefit from the world is the pious
woman"………Narrated by Muslim.
From Muhammad's Life:
Al-Aswad ibn Yazid said "I asked
aisha about what Allah's Messenger (PBUH) used to do at home?" she said
"He (PBUH) was always serving his family till prayer time comes then he
goes to the prayer"………….Narrated by Al- Bukhari.
A man from Bani Sawa' asked Aisha about
the behavior of Allah's Messenger (PBUH). She replied "don’t you read the
Quran describing him that he has the most noble manners. She said "Allah's
Messenger (PBUH) was with his companions, so I made him some food & also
Hafsa did the same but she preceded me. So, I told my servant to go & break
hafsa's platter. She went on and sis what I told her in the presence of Allah's
Messenger (PBUH). The food was scattered on the ground and he (PBUH) gathered
it and ate it with his companions. He then took my platter and ordered my
servant to give it to Hafsa saying "A platter in place of yours and the
food is for you to eat". Aisha commented that despite of her act, Allah's
Messenger (PBUH) never showed her that he was angry from her……….Sunan Ibn
Majah. 25
6- Muhammad (PBUH) with his Relatives:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with
him )reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Whoever loves that he
be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged then he should
keep good relations with his kinship"……………Agreed Upon.
From Muhammad's Life:
Anas b. Malik (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported: Abu Talha was the one among the Ansar of Medina who possessed
the largest property and among his property he valued most his garden known as
Bairaha' which was opposite the mosque, and the Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) often visited it and he drank of its sweet water. When this verse was
revealed:" You will never attain righteousness till you give freely of
what you love" (Al-Imran. 92), Abu Talha got up and, going to Allah's
Messenger (peace be upon him), said: Allah says in His Book:" You will
never attain righteousness till you give freely of what you love," and the
dearest of my property is Bairaha' so I give it as Sadaqa to Allah from Whom I
hope for reward. The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: Bravo, that is profit
earning property. I have heard what you have said, but I think you should spend
it on your nearest relatives. So Abu Talha distributed it among the neatest
relatives and his cousins on his father's side…….Agreed Upon.
7- Muhammad (PBUH) as a Visitor:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported that the prophet (PBUH) said: A person visited his brother in
another town and Allah deputed an Angel to wait for him on his way and when he
came to him he said: Where do you intend to go? He said: I intend to go to my
brother in this town. He said: Have you done any favor to him (the repayment of
which you intend to get)? He said: No, except this that I love him for the sake
of Allah, the Exalted and Glorious. Thereupon he said: I am a messenger to you
from, Allah: (to inform you) that Allah loves you as you love him (for His
sake)…….Narrated by Muslim 26
From Muhammad's Life:
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that the Messenger (PBUH) said to Gabriel "What prevents you from
visiting us more often?" In reply to this the following verse was revealed
"And we (angels) descend not except by the Command of your Lord (O
Muhammad). To Him belongs what is before us and what is behind us, and what is
between those two; and your Lord is never forgetful -"……….Surat Mariam
(64)……Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
8- With the Orphans:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Sahl Ibn Sa'ad (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "I and the person, who
looks after an orphan and provides for him, will be in paradise like this"
putting his index and middle finger together………Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
From Muhammad's Life :
Abu Hurraira (may Allah be pleased with
him )reported that a man came to Allah's Messenger (PBUH) complaining of having
a hard heart, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) replied "if you want your heart to
be softened then donate food to the needy and rub over an orphan's
head"……….Musnad Ahmed.
9- With the Needy:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "The
worst food is that of a banquet to which the needy are not invited and those
who are not in need are invited. ……… Narrated by Muslim.
In another version of the same Hadith that
is mentioned in both Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said
"The worst food is that of a banquet to which the rich are invited and the
poor are not".
Abu Darda' Oeimer (may Allah be pleased
with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "Take care of the
weak, because the weak are the reason behind your being granted victory and
wealth"………Narrated by Abu Dawood. 27
From Muhammad's Life :
Abu Hubaira ibn Amro Al-Muzni (may Allah
be pleased with him) reported that Abu Sufian came across a crowd which
included Salman, Soheib and Belal. They told him "The swords of Allah did
not take enough of Allah's enemy (meaning abu sufian). Abu Bakr (may Allah be
pleased with him) said "Do you dare saying that to the Sheikh of Quraish
and their master?"…..Then came Allah's Messenger (PBUH) and said to Abu
Bakr "Abu Bakr you might have annoyed them, if you did so, then you would
be annoying Allah ". Abu Bakr came to them saying "O brothers, have I
annoyed you?"…..they replied "No, May Allah forgive you
brother"………..Narrated by Muslim
10- With his Neighbors
From Muhammad's Sayings:
The Prophet (PBUH) said, "By Allah,
he does not believe! By Allah, he does not believe! By Allah, he does not
believe!" It was said, "Who is that, O Allah's Apostle?" He
said, "That person whose neighbor does not feel safe from his evil doing".........Agreed
Upon
In another version narrated by Muslim,
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said "he whose neighbor does not feel safe from
his evil doings will not be admitted to heaven".
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said
"Anybody who believes in Allah and the Judgment Day should not harm his neighbor,
and anybody who believes in Allah and the judgment Day should entertain his
guest generously and anybody who believes in Allah and the judgment Day should
talk what is good or keep quiet"……….Agreed Upon.
From Muhammad's Life:
Abu Dhar (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "O Aba Dhar, if you cook
soup, make a lot of it and give your neighbors"…….narrated by Muslim
In another version Abu Dhar said "My
intimate friend (PBUH) advised me "if you cooked soup then make more of it
and give your neighbors some of it"
Abdu Allah ibn Omar(may Allah be pleased
with him) reported that Allah's Apostle (PBUH) said: "The best of friends
are those who are most beneficial to their friends. The best of neighbors are
those who are most beneficial to their neighbors"……….Narrated by
Al-Tirmidhi. 28
11- With the Parents:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
A man came asking Allah's Messenger (PBUH)
"O Allah's Apostle, who is the person most deserving of my friendly
companionship?" He (PBUH) replied "Your Mother", the man said
"then who?' He (PBUH) replied "Your mother", the man said
"then who?", He (PBUH) replied "Your mother"……the man said
"then who?"…….. He (PBUH) replied "Your father"
In another version: A man came asking
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) about the person who is most deserving of my friendly,
careful companionship. The Prophet (PBUH) said "Your mother, then your
mother, then your mother, then your father then your closer kinship".
Asma'a bint Abu Bakr Al-Siddik (may Allah
be pleased with him) reported that she asked Allah's Apostle (PBUH) whether or
not she should keep good relations with her mother who was still polytheist at
the time. He replied "Yes keep good relations with her"…………..Agreed
Upon.
From Muhammad's Life :
It was narrated that Abu Hurraira said to
some companions of Allah's Messenger (PBUH) "By Allah, any believer who
will ever hear about me will love me"…..a companion asked him "How
you know that Abu Hurraira?" He replied "My mother was a polytheist
and I was calling her to Islam and she was always refusing. Once I called her
to Islam again and she said very bad words about Allah's Messenger (PBUH). I
came crying to the Prophet (PBUH) and told him what happened between me and my
mother and asked him to pray to Allah to guide my mother to Islam. Allah's
Messenger (PBUH) said" O Allah, guide Abu Hurraira's mother to the right
path".
I ran to my mother to bring to her the
good news of the prophet's (PBUH) prayer for her. When I came to her door, I
heard the sound of water and her footsteps. She said "Abu Hurraira, stay
where you are". Then she came opening the door with her clothes on
saying:" I testify that there's no god but Allah, and that Mohamed is his
messenger".
Abu Hurraira said I went running with joy to
Allah's Messenger (PBUH) and said "O Allah's Messenger cheer up for Allah
has answered your prayer and has guided my mother to the right path". I
then asked Allah's Apostle (PBUH) to pray for Allah (the Almighty) to make all
the believers love me and my mother and to make us love them. Allah's Messenger
(PBUH) said "O Allah, 29
please let the believers
love Abu Hurraira and his mother and make them love all believers"…….from
that time, Abu Hurriara said that whenever any believer hears or seas me or my mother
he loves us………Musnad Ahmed (Part 2/ page319).30
1. Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a Seller.
From Muhammad 's Sayings :
- Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (may Allah be
pleased with him) reported: Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
"May Allah's mercy be on him who is lenient in his buying, selling, and in
demanding back his money". Narrated by Bukhari.
From Muhammad 's Life :
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported: A man came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) demanding his
debts (a camel) in such a rude (harsh) manner that the companions of the
Prophet intended to harm him, but Allah's Messenger said (to them): "Leave
him, no doubt, for the creditor (i.e., owner of a right) has the right to
speak)). Allah's Messenger then said: ((Give him a camel of the same age as
that of his)). The people said: "O Allah's Messenger! We do not find
except an older camel (than what he demands). Allah's Messenger said: ((Give
(it to) him, for the best amongst you (the people) is he who repays his debts
in the most handsome manner)). Agreed upon.
2. Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a Buyer.
From Muhammad 's Sayings :
- Abi Saeed Al-khudri (may Allah be
pleased with him) reported: The prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The
merchant, who says nothing but truth and is honest, is in the company of the
prophets - who teach, the sincere -, lovers of truth, and the martyrs (or
witnesses) - who testify." Narrated by Tirmithi.
From Muhammad 's Life :
- Safwan Suwayd ibn Qays (may Allah be
pleased with him) reported: I and Makhramah al-Abdi imported some garments from
Hajar, and brought them to Mecca. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)
came to us walking, and after he had bargained with us for some trousers, we
sold them to him. There was a man who was weighing for payment. The Messenger
of Allah
Dealings31
(peace be upon him) said to
him: ((weigh out and give overweight)). Narrated by Abu Daud and Tirmithi and
said good correct speech (hadith). Reported by Abu-Dawud and Al-Tirmithi and
said Hadith Hasan Sahih (good and correct).
3. Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a Covenanter.
From Muhammad 's Sayings :
- Abdullah bin Amr bin Al 'Aas (may Allah
be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him) said: "Whoever has the following four (characteristics) will be
a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of these characteristics will have one
characteristic of hypocrisy unless he gives it up: 1. Whenever he is entrusted,
he betrays; 2. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie; 3. Whenever he makes a
covenant, he proves treacherous; 4. Whenever he quarrels, he behaves in a very
imprudent, evil and insulting, unjust manner." Agreed upon.
4. Muhammad (peace be upon him) in War.
From Muhammad 's Sayings :
- Aisha reported that Allah's Messenger
(peace be upon him) never beat anyone with his hand, neither a woman nor a
servant, but only, in the case when he had been fighting for the sake of Allah
and he never took revenge for anything unless the things made inviolable by
Allah were made violable; he then took revenge for Allah, the Exalted and
Glorious. Narrated by Muslim.
From Muhammad 's life :
- Sulaiman b. Buraidah through his father
reported that when the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) appointed anyone as leader of
an army or detachment he would especially exhort him to fear Allah and to be
good to the Muslims who were with him. Then he would say: Fight in the name of
Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah.
Make a holy war, do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do
not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill children. Narrated by Muslim.
5. Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the People of the
Scripture
(Jews & Christians)
From Muhammad's Sayings :
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported: Once while a Jew 32
was selling something, he
was offered a price that he was not pleased with. So, he said, "No, by Him
Who gave Moses superiority over all human beings!" Hearing him, an Ansari
man got up and slapped him on the face and said, "You say: By Him Who Gave
Moses superiority over all human beings although the Prophet (Muhammad) – peace
be upon him - is present amongst us!" The Jew went to the Prophet and
said, "O Abu-l-Qasim! I am under the assurance and contract of security,
so what right does so-and-so have to slap me?" The Prophet asked the
other, "Why have you slapped him". He told him the whole story. The
Prophet became angry, till anger appeared on his face, and said, "Don't
give superiority to any prophet amongst Allah's Prophets, for when the trumpet
will be blown, everyone on the earth and in the heavens will become unconscious
except those whom Allah will exempt. The trumpet will be blown for the second
time and I will be the first to be resurrected to see Moses holding Allah's
Throne. I will not know whether the unconsciousness which Moses received on the
Day of Tur has been sufficient for him, or has he got up before me. And I do
not say that there is anybody who is better than Yunus bin Matta."
Narrated by Bukhari.
From Muhammad's Life:
- Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported: A young Jewish boy used to serve the Prophet (peace be upon him) and
he became sick. So the Prophet (peace be upon him) went to visit him. He sat
near his head and asked him to embrace Islam. The boy looked at his father, who
was sitting there; the latter told him to obey Abu-l-Qasim and the boy embraced
Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) came out saying: "Praises be to
Allah Who saved the boy from the Hell-fire." Narrated by Bukhari.
- 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
reported: Allah's Messenger (PBUH) died while his (iron) armor was mortgaged to
a Jew for thirty Sas of barley. Agreed upon.
- Sahl Bin Hunaif (may Allah be pleased
with him) reported: A funeral procession passed in front of the Prophet and he
stood up. When he was told that it was the coffin of a Jew, he said, "Is
it not a soul (living being)? Narrated by Bukhari.33
1. Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a
Trustworthy (and Honest).
From Muhammad's Sayings:
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported: The messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "The signs of a
hypocrite are three: 1. Whenever he speaks, he tells a lie. 2. Whenever he
promises, he always breaks it (his promise). 3. If you trust him, he proves to
be dishonest. (If you keep something as a trust with him, he will not return
it.)"Agreed upon.
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported : Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "The claimants would get
their claims on the Day of Resurrection so much so that the hornless sheep
would get its claim from the horned sheep." Narrated by Muslim.
- Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be
pleased with him) reported: when it was the day of Khaibar a party of
Companions of the prophet (PBUH) came there and said: So and so is a martyr,
till they happened to pass by a man and said: So and so is a martyr. Upon this
the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) remarked: (Nay, not so verily I have seen him in
the Fire for the garment or cloak that he had stolen from the booty)) .Narrated
by Muslim.
From Muhammad's Life:
- Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported: The messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: "Whoever carries arms
against us, is not from us; and whoever cheats us, is not from us" Narrated
by Muslim. And, in another narration of Abu Huraira: The messenger of Allah
(PBUH) passed by a food container, entered his hand in it and his fingers found
it wet, then he (the messenger) said: "What is this, O the owner of the
food?" he (the man) said: It is from the sky (rain) came to it, O
messenger of Allah, he (the messenger) said: "Don’t you make it above the
food so people can see it! Whoever cheats us, is not from us)).
Morals34
2. Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a
Truthful Person.
From Muhammad's Sayings:
- Abdullah bin Amr bin Al 'Aas (may Allah
be pleased with them both) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"Four (characteristics) whoever has them will be a pure hypocrite, and
whoever has one of them will have one characteristic of hypocrisy unless he
gives it up: Whenever he is entrusted, he betrays; Whenever he speaks, he tells
a lie; Whenever he makes a covenant, he proves treacherous; Whenever he
quarrels, he behaves in a very imprudent, evil and insulting, unjust manner."
Agreed upon.
- 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be
pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said: "Truthfulness leads
to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. And a man keeps on
telling the truth till he is written before Allah, a truthful person. Falsehood
leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Al-Fajur (wickedness)
leads to the (Hell) Fire, and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written
before Allah, a liar." Agreed upon.
From Muhammad 's Life:
- Abu Sufyan bin Harb (may Allah be
pleased with him) reported in his long speech in the story of Heraclius,
Heraclius said: What does he order you to do (means the Prophet – peace be upon
him)? Abu Sufyan said: ((He tells us to worship Allah and Allah alone and not
to worship anything along with Him, and to renounce all that our ancestors had
said. He orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste and to keep good
relations with our Kith and kin)) Agreed upon.
3- Muhammad (PBUH) the Speaker
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
- Abu-Huraira, may Allah be pleased with
him, reported that the prophet Peace Be Upon Him said: “and the good word is a
sadaqa (considered as a charitable donation)”. Agreed upon by the scholars.
- Iben-Omar (Omar’s Son), may Allah be
pleased with them both, reported that the messenger of Allah PBUH said: “if
they were three then no two are to hold secret counsel excluding the third
person”. Agreed upon by the scholars.
- This was also narrated by Abu-Dawoud
with the addition of: Abu-Saleh said: 35
“I said to Iben-Omar: what if they were four?
He answered: then this will not harm you.
- And narrated by Malek, in the book of
Al-Mawtaa, reported by Abdullah Bin- Dinar who said: “ Iben-Omar and I were at
the house of Khaled Bin-Oqbah which was in the market, when a man came and
wanted to speak alone with him and no one was with Iben-Omar but me. Iben-Omar
called a third man so we became four and told us (the new person and I):
"Walk further behind, because I heard the messenger of Allah PBUH saying:
“No two are to hold secret counsel excluding the third person”".
From Muhammad’s Life:
- Anas, may Allah be pleased with him,
reported that the prophet PBUH used to repeat a word three times so it would be
understood from him, and if he came upon some people and greeted them, he would
greet them three times. Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
4-Muhammad (PBUH) the Wise Patient Man:
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
- Iben-Abbas (Abbas’s son), may Allah be
pleased with them both, reported
: the messenger of Allah PBUH told Ashaj
AbdulQais: “You have two characteristics that Allah loves: the Patience
(Endurance) and the Tolerance”.
Narrated by Muslim.
From Muhammad’s Life:
- Anas, may Allah be pleased with him,
reported: I was walking with the messenger of Allah PBUH and he had a thick
Najrani garment, when a bedouin approached him and pulled him from his collar
very hard, I saw the prophet’s neck and saw that the garment had bruised it
from the harsh pull.
Then the bedouin said: Ay Muhammad order
me some of Allah’s money that you have. The prophet turned towards him and
laughed then ordered him an endowment. Agreed upon by the scholars.
5-Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) the Companion:
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
- Aisha, may Allah be pleased with
her,reported that the prophet PBUH said: “Allah is kind and loves kindness in
everything”. Agreed upon by the scholars. 36
- And she also reported that
Allah’s messenger PBUH said: “Allah is kind and loves kindness; he gives on
kindness what he doesn’t give on violence and what he doesn’t give on anything
else”. Narrated by Muslim.
From Muhammad’s Life:
- Abu-Huraira may Allah be pleased with
him, reported that: “a bedouin urinated in the mosque, so a group of people
went towards him to stop him roughly when the prophet PBUH told them: “let him
and pour over his urine a bucket of water, because you were sent as
facilitators not as complicators”. Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
6-Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) the Modest:
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
- Ayyadh Bin-Himar, may Allah be pleased
with him, reported that the prophet PBUH said: “Allah informed me that you
should be modest so no one would be proud against each other and should not
mistreat each others”. Narrated by Muslim.
From Muhammad’s Life:
- Reported by Al-Aswad Bin-Yazeed that
Aysha, may Allah be pleased with her was asked: what does the prophet PBUH used
to do at home? She said: He used to be serving his family, and when the prayer
time arrives he used to go out (to the mosque) for prayer. Narrated by
Al-Bukhari.
7-Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him Kind to Everyone Around Him
Even
to Animals
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
- Reported by Iben-Omar, may Allah be
pleased with him, that he passed by youngsters from Quraish, who had tied up a
bird and were throwing arrows at it, they had promised the bird’s owner to give
him any arrows that missed the
bird. But when they saw Iben-Omar
approaching they ran away. Iben-Omar asked: Who did this! Allah damns who did
this! The messenger of Allah PBUH damns who uses anything with a soul as an
aiming target. Agreed upon by the scholars 37
From Muhammad’s Life:
- Reported by Iben-Masoud, may Allah be
pleased with him,: we were with
the messenger of Allah PBUH traveling when
he went to relief himself, we saw a bird with two chicks, so we took them. The
bird started trembling and the prophet PBUH came and asked: “who grieved this
bird with its children? Return its children to it”. He also saw an ant village
that we’ve burnt and asked: “who burnt this?” we replied that it was us, he
then said: “no one should torture with fire but the God who created fire”.
Narrated by Abu- Dawoud with a good line of narrators.
8-Muhammad Peace Be Upon Him the Merciful Man:
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
- Reported by Abu-Kutada Al Harith, may
Allah be pleased with him, that the prophet PBUH said: “When I get up for
prayer I want to take my time in it, but when I hear a child crying I hurry up
in my prayer in the fear of disturbing his mother (who is praying behind me)”.
Narrated by Buckhari.
From Muhammad’s Life:
- Abu-Sulaiman Malek Bin Al-Huwaireeth,
may Allah be pleased with him, reported: we visited the messenger of Allah PBUH
when we were kindred young men, and we stayed with him for 20 nights. The
messenger of Allah PBUH was merciful and kind, and he thought that we missed
our families so
he asked us about our families and whom we
left behind from them. Each of us answered, then he said: “go back to your
families and stay with them and teach them (the religion), order them to apply
all the teachings of Islam and to pray each prayer in its time. The Prophet
then added, "Pray as you have seen me praying and when it is the time for
the prayer, one of you should make the prayer announcement (Athan) and the
eldest of you should lead the prayer.. Agreed upon by the scholars
9-Muhammad ( Peace Be Upon Him) the Ascetic:
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
- The messenger of Allah PBUH said: “The
dead is followed by three: his
family, his money and his deeds; two would
return and one would stay: his family and money would return, and his deeds
would stay”.38
- Al-Mustowred Bin-Shaddad,
may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the messenger of Allah PBUH said:
“This life is in the life after the same compared with what you get out of the
sea when you put your finger in it, see how much remains!”. Narrated by Muslim.
- Abu-Abbas Sahal Bin-Saad Al-Sa’edi, may
Allah be pleased with him, narrated that a man came to the prophet PBUH and
said: Ay messenger of Allah lead me to do something to gain Allah's love and
the people's too. He said: “renounce worldly pleasure and Allah would love you,
and renounce people's properties and they would love you”. A good saying
narrated by Iben- Majah and others with good backgrounds.
From Muhammad’s Life:
- Al-Nu’man Bin-Basheer, may Allah be
pleased with them both, reported that Omar Bin-Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased
with him, mentioned when talking about the life of the people in this world:
"I’ve seen the messenger of Allah PBUH would stay a whole day suffering
from hunger and would not find even the worst of dates to fill his stomach.
Narrated by Muslim.
- Reported by Amr Bin-Al-Hareth the
brother of Juwairiya Bint-Al-Harith, the mother of Momineen (wife of the
messenger PBUH), may Allah be pleased with them both, said: the messenger of
Allah PBUH did not leave, when he died, a Dinar, nor a Dirham (money
currencies) nor a slave male or female,
not a thing, except his white mule which
he used to ride, and his weapon and a land that he left as a charity for the
travelers in need. Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
- Abdullah Bin-Al-Shikh’air, may Allah be
pleased with him, reported: I approached the prophet PBUH while he was reciting
from the Quran: {The mutual rivalry (for piling up worldly things) diverts you}
when he said: “The son of Adam would say: my money my money! And what would you
get oh son of Adam from your money but what you have eaten and ended, or wore
and worn, or given as charity and be with it?!”. Narrated by Muslim.0
- Reported by Aisha, may Allah be pleased
with her,: the family of Mohammed PBUH never felt filled (had enough) from the
bread of wheat two consecutive days until he died. Agreed upon by the scholars.
- And in another narration: The family of
Mohammed PBUH never had enough
from the food of wheat for three
consecutive nights since they arrived to Al- Madeena until he died.39
- Reported by Urwa, that
Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, used to say: Oh my nephew (my sister’s
son), By Allah, we used to watch the crescent moon pass to the next crescent
moon to the next: three crescent moons in two months and not a fire would be
started in any of the messenger of Allah’s, PBUH, houses. I asked her: Oh aunt,
so how did you live? She answered: By the two blacks: the dates and the water,
but the messenger of Allah, PBUH, used to have neighbors from Al-Ansar (the
citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the immigrates) who used to
have a cattle and sent the Prophet (PBUH) from its milk and he sent it to us to
drink. Agreed upon by the scholars.
10-Muhammad (PBUH) bedding farewell :
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated:
"I sought permission of the Prophet
(peace_be_upon_him) to perform umrah. He gave me permission and said:"My
younger brother, do not forget me in your supplication. "
He (Umar) said: He told me a word that
pleased me so much so that I would not have been pleased if I were given the
whole world."
In another narration he (the prophet)said:
"My younger brother, share me in your supplication."
From Muhammad's life:
Abu-Sulaiman Malek Bin Al-Huwaireeth, may
Allah be pleased with him, reported: we visited the messenger of Allah PBUH
when we were kindred young men, and we stayed with him for 20 nights. The
messenger of Allah PBUH was merciful and kind and he thought that we missed our
families so he asked us about our families and whom we left behind from them.
Each of
us answered, then he said: “go back to
your families and stay with them and teach them (the religion), order them to
apply all the teachings of Islam and to pray each prayer in its time. The
Prophet then added, "Pray as you have seen me praying and when it is the
time for the prayer, one of you should make the prayer announcement (Athan) and
the eldest of you should lead the prayer.. Agreed upon by the scholars 40
11-Muhammad(PBUH) the Grateful :
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Osama Ibn Zaid (may Allah bless both of
them) narrated: "the prophet said: "If someone makes you a favor and
you said to him "May Allah reward you handsomely.", you praised him
very well"
From Muhammad's Life:
Sa'd ibn AbuWaqqas (may Allah bless him)
reported:
"We went out with the prophet (peace
be upon him) from Mecca towards Medina. When we were near Azwra', he got down
his camel then raised his hands, and made supplication to Allah for a time,
then he prostrated to Allah for a long time. This he did three times.
He then said :" I begged Allah for
intercession to all my followers, He gave me a third of them, so I prostrated
thankful to Allah. Then I raised my head and begged Him again for intercession
to all my followers, and He gave me another third of them, so I prostrated
thankful to Allah. Then I raised my head and begged for intercession to all my
followers again and He gave me the remaining third, so I prostrated to thank
Allah for all that."
12-Muhammad (PBUH) being Justice:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
'Abdullah b. 'Umar (may Allah be pleased
with him) reported, that the prophet (PBUH) Said:" Behold! the Dispensers
of justice will be seated on the pulpits of light beside God :( The Dispensers
of justice are) those who are justice in their rules, regarding their families
and every single detail in their life."
Jabir b. Abdullah (may Allah be pleased
with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said:
"Beware oppression, because it turns
into darkness on the Day of Resurrection,
and beware penny-pinching because it destroyed those who lived before you, as
it incited them to shed blood and commit incest."
From the life of Muhammad(PBUH):
An-Nu'man bin Bashir (may Allah be pleased
with him) reported: 41
that his father took him to
the prophet and said, "I have given my son a slave."
The Prophet asked, "Have you given
all your sons the same like you did with him?" He replied: "no".
The Prophet said, "Take back42
1-Muhammad (PBUH) as a Teacher
From Muhammad’s Sayings: -
Bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that the Prophet said, “Do not wish to be like anyone except in two
cases. (The first is) A person, whom Allah has given wealth and he spends it
righteously; (the second is) the one whom Allah has given wisdom (the Holy
Quran) and he acts according to it and teaches it to others.”
Sahl bin Sad (may Allah be pleased with
him) reported that the prophet said,” if one man is been guided on the right
path (i.e. converted to Islam) with your help, it would be better for you than
everything on earth”
Abu Huraira reported that the prophet
(peace be upon him) said: “Allah makes the way to paradise easy for those who
search for knowledge.”
From the Muhammad’ Life:
Abi Nagieh Al-Irbad ibn Sariyah (may Allah
be pleased with him )reported: One day the prophet (peace be upon him) gave us
a lengthy exhortation from which the hearts were afraid and the eyes shed
tears; he said: “I enjoin you to fear Allah, and to hear and obey ; and for
those who will live after me will see great disagreements. You must then follow
my sunnah and that of the rightly-guided caliphs. Hold to it and stick fast to
it. Avoid novelties, because every novelty is an innovation, and every
innovation is an error.
2- Muhammad (PBUH) while Eating
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
‘Umar bin Abi Salama (may Allah be pleased
with him) reported:
The prophet said, “Mention the Name of
Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearer to you.”
Good Manners43
From Muhammad’s Life:
“Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with
him)reported:
“The Prophet never criticized any food; he
used to eat if he liked it, and didn’t if he disliked it.”
3-Muhammad(PBUH)while Drinking:
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
Ibn Abass (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported :
The prophet (PBUH) said :”Do not drink (all
water)once like camels, but drink twice and thrice and mention the Name of
Allah before you drink , and praise Allah when you finish.”
From Muhammad’s Life:
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that the Prophet used to take three breaths(outside the vessel) while
drinking.
4- Muhammad (PBUH) with Illness:
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
Ibn Abbass (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that the prophet (PBUH) said: (Who visit a patient who did not die yet
and said at his presence seven times: I pray Allah the almightily to heal you
from illness, unless Allah relieve him from this sickness) narrated by Abu
Dawood and Tirmithy and said a good hadith. In addition Al Hakim said a correct
hadith according to Bukhari.
From Muhammad’s Life:
- Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that when the prophet (Peace be upon him) fall ill, Fatima (may Allah
be pleased with her) said: What a disaster, Oh my father! After that he said: “
Your father will not suffer after now”. When he died she said:” Oh my father,
Allah Fulfiledl your prayer, oh my father the heaven is his resort, we mourn
him to Jepril. When he was buried fatma (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
did how you dare to throw dust on the Prophet (Peace be upon him)?! Narrated by
Al-Bukhari.
5- Muhammad (Peace be upon him) Traveling.
From Muhammad’s Sayings:
- Gaber (may Allah be pleased with him)
reported that the prophet (Peace be 44
upon him) told the Ansar
(the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhâjirûn) and the -Muhajireen(immigrants;
those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) when he intended to invade: “
There is among your brothers who doesn’t have money or any tribe, so each one
of you helps two or three men , as there is no one that can help them except you”.
Narrated by Abo Dawood.
From Muhammad’s Life:
- The Prophet peace be upon was always
joining the group that he is walking with from the back just to be able to help
the weak and to pray for them. Narrated by Abo Dawood by a good ascription.
6- Muhammad(Peace be upon him) Walking:
Form Muhammad’s Sayings:
- The Prophet (Peace be upon him) says:
“The one who passes by our mosques or markets carrying an arrows, has to hold
it to avoid the injury of any of the Muslims”. Agreed upon by the scholars45
1- Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in his
Prayers.
From Muhammad's Sayings:
- The prophet (Peace be upon him) said:
"Can I tell you what makes Allah remove all the sins and forgive
us?", they said: yes, Then he said: "The proper ablution, to make
more visits to the mosques and waiting for the prayers." Narrated by
Muslim.
- Abu Abd Al-Rahaman Abdullah Ibn Massoud
(may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I asked the prophet (Peace be upon
him), which action is the best to be done for Allah? Ha said: "To perform
the prayers on its time", I asked and what else ?, he said: "To treat
parents with kindness", I said: and what else?, he said: "the holy
war (jihad)".Agreed upon by scholars.
From Muhammad's Life:
- Aisha (may Allah be pleased wih her)
reported that the prophet (Peace be upon him) was praying all the night until
his feet was injured. I said to him: Why are you doing that, though Allah has
forgiven all your deeds? He replied: " I would like to be a thankful
slave", Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and al-Sahihain.
2-Muhammad (peace be upon to him) Talking to Allah:
From Muhammad's Sayings:
Abu Bakr al-Siddeeque (may Allah be
pleased with him ) reported that the Prophet thought him to say this while
praying :"Say: Allah; I did a lot of
injustice upon myself but you are the only one Who forgives faults so forgive
me and have mercy on me as you are the most merciful)) Agreed upon.
From Muhammad's Life:
- Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him
) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said at distress: "There is no god but
Allah the great clement, there is no god but Allah the almighty, there is no
god but Allah; the god of the sky and the earth and the great throne) Agreed
upon.
The Worships46
- It is reported by Ibn
Massoud (may Allah be pleased with him) that the prophet (Peace be upon him)
said in his prayers : " I pray for your mercy, forgiveness, the safety
from any sin, the gain from any charity, wining the heaven and to be saved from
the hell", narrated by Al-Hakim Abo Abdullah and he said a correct Hadith
according to Muslim.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said
that the prophet (Peace be upon him) was praying eleven prostrations (she means
at night), and he kneeled in one of the prostrations equal to one's reading
fifty verses from the Quran . Then he prayed two prostrations before al Fagr
prayers then he slept on his right side until it was called for al Fajr
prayers. Narrated by Al-Bukhari.47
If we compare the life of
Muhammad (Pease be upon him) before his mission as a prophet and his life after
he began his mission as a prophet, we will conclude that it is beyond reason to
think that Muhammad (PBUH) was a false prophet, who claimed prophethood to
attain material gains, greatness, glory, or power.
Before his mission as a prophet, Muhammad
(PBUH) had no financial worries. As a successful and reputed merchant, Muhammad
(PBUH) drew a satisfactory and comfortable income. After his mission as a
prophet and because of it, he became worse off materially. To clarify this
more, let us browse the following sayings on his life:
- Aa'isha (May Allah be pleased with her)
, Muhammad's wife, said, "O my nephew, we would sight three new moons in
two months without lighting a fire (to cook a meal) in the Prophet's
houses." Her nephew asked, "O Aunt, what sustained you?" She
said, "The two black things, dates and water. And the Prophet (PBUH) had
some Ansar neighbors (from the Supporters) who had a "milk-giving" she-camel
and they used to send the Prophet some of its milk." (Al-Bukhari and
Muslim)
- Sahl Ibn Sa'ad, one of Muhammad's
companions, said, "The Prophet (PBUH) did not see bread made from fine
flour from the time Allah sent him (as a prophet) until he died."
(Al-Bukhari and Al-Tirmithi)
- Aa'isha said, "The mattress of the
Prophet (PBUH), on which he slept, was made of leather stuffed with the fiber
of the date-palm tree." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
Amr Ibn Al-Hareth, one of Muhammad's
companions, said that when the Prophet (PBUH) died, he left neither money nor
anything else except his white riding mule, his arms, and a piece of land which
he left to charity.( Al-Bukhari and Mosnad Ahmad)
Muhammad (PBUH) lived this hard life till
he died although the Muslim treasury was at his disposal, the greater part of
the Arabian Peninsula was Muslim
The Simple Life of Muhammad (PBUH48
before he died, and the
Muslims were victorious after eighteen years of his mission.
Is it possible that Muhammad (PBUH) might
have claimed prophethood in order to attain status, greatness, and power? The
desire to enjoy status and power is usually associated with good food, fancy
clothing, monumental palaces, colorful guards, and indisputable authority. Do
any of these indicators apply to Muhammad? A few glimpses of his life that may
help answer this question follow.
Despite his responsibilities as a prophet,
a teacher, a statesman, and a judge, Muhammad (PBUH) used to milk his goat,
mend his clothes, repair his shoes, help with the household work, and visit the
poor and the sick people. He also helped his companions in digging a trench by
moving sand with them. His life was an amazing model of simplicity and
humbleness.
Muhammad's followers loved him, respected
him, and trusted him to an amazing extent. Yet he continued to emphasize that
deification should be directed to Allah and not to him personally. Anas, one of
Muhammad's companions, said that there was no person whom they loved more than
the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), yet he did not allow them to stand up for him as
other people do with great personalities.
Long before there wasn't any prospect of
success for Islam (in the eyes of the polytheists) and at the outset of a long
and painful era of torture, suffering, and persecution of Muhammad (PBUH) and
his followers, he received an interesting offer. An envoy of the pagan leaders,
Otba, came to him saying, "... If you want money, we will collect enough
money for you so that you will be the richest one of us. If you want
leadership, we will take you as our leader and never decide on any matter
without your approval. If you want a kingdom, we will crown you king over
us..."
Only one concession was required from
Muhammad (PBUH) in return for that, to give up calling people to Islam and
worshipping Allah alone without any partner. Wouldn't this offer be tempting to
one pursuing worldly benefit? Was Muhammad (PBUH) hesitant when the offer was
made? Did he turn it down as a bargaining strategy leaving the door open for a
better offer? The following was his answer: {In the Name of God, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful} And he recited to Otba the verses of the Quran
41:1-38. The Following are some of these verses:
"A revelation from (Allah), the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful; a Book 49
whereof the verses are
explained in detail; a Quran in Arabic, for people who know, giving good news
and warning, yet most of them turn away, so they do not listen." (Quran,
41:2-4)
On another occasion and in response to his
uncle's plea to stop calling people to Islam, Muhammad's answer was as decisive
and sincere: "I swear by the name of Allah, O Uncle!, that if they place
the sun in my right-hand and the moon in my left-hand in return for giving up
this matter (calling people to Islam), I will never desist until either the
Almighty Allah makes it triumph or I perish defending it."
Muhammad (PBUH) and his few followers did
not only suffer from persecution for thirteen years but the unbelievers even
tried to kill Muhammad (PBUH) several times. On one occasion they attempted to
kill him by dropping a large boulder, which could barely be lifted, on his
head.
Another time they tried to kill him by
poisoning his food.
What could justify such a life of
suffering and sacrifice even after he was fully triumphant over his
adversaries? What could explain the humbleness and nobility which he demonstrated
in his most glorious moments when he insisted that success is due only to God's
help and not to his own genius?
Are these the characteristics of a
power-hungry or a self-centered man?50
What we, Muslims, need today
is a change of understanding; we need to step out of our time and place and see
our situation in light of the laws that Allah placed for His creation, and the
guidance that He sent His Messenger (PBUH) with. "And don't be weak in the
pursuit of the enemy; if you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too)
are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allah
(for the reward, i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not, and Allah is Ever
All-Knowing, All-Wise." (Holy Qur'an, 4:104)
In this verse we can see the glad tidings
given to the true believers in the hardest of moments. We may think at times
there is no exit for the Ummah (nation), but we have to remember that Allah,
the Almighty, has promised victory to this Ummah, a victory He will bring when
He wants, due to His Wisdom.
Our situation is one of weakness and we
know it will change to one of strength. Imam Ahmad was quoted as saying that
the Falsehood will not be manifest over the Truth until our hearts leave the
Truth. We are certain, when we fulfill the conditions of victory, that the
Truth will be manifest over the Falsehood. We know it is near. By Allah, it is
close, as even the Day of Judgment is referred to as "Tomorrow."
The following are three dire situations
from the Prophet's Seerah (biography) during which he reassured and gave glad
tidings to his followers.
The Prophet (PBUH) in Ta'if
When the harm and plotting of Quraish
increased, after the death of the Prophet's uncle and wife, he headed to Ta'if
hoping that he might find in that trip greater attentiveness and support for
his message. Instead, they turned him away in a very impolite manner. They
encouraged their boys to stone him. They stoned him until his noble feet were
bleeding.
The Prophet (PBUH) turned his face towards
Makkah with fresh determination to resume his earlier plan to expose people to
Islam and communicate his Message in a great spirit of zeal and matchless
enthusiasm.
The Prophet (PBUH) Gave Glad Tidings during the Hardest of
Situations51
Zaid bin Harithah, his companion,
said to the Prophet (PBUH) :
'How dare you step into Makkah after they
(Quraish) have expatriated you?'
The Prophet (PBUH) answered: 'Allâh will
surely provide relief and He will verily support His religion and
Prophet.'"
The Prophet (PBUH) with Abu Bakr during
the Hijrah (their way to Madinah after leaving Makkah)
The notables of Makkah convened an
emergency session to determine the future course of action and explore all
areas that could help arrest the Prophet and Abu Bakr. They decided to block
all avenues leading out of Makkah and imposed heavy armed surveillance over all
potential exits. A price of 100 camels was set upon the head of each one.
Horsemen, infantry and tracers of tracks scoured the country.
Once they even reached the cave where the
Prophet (PBUH) and Abu Bakr were hiding. When he saw the enemy at a very close
distance, Abu Bakr whispered to the Prophet (PBUH): 'What, if they were to look
through the crevice and detect us?' The Prophet (PBUH) in his God-inspired calm
replied: 'Silence Abu Bakr! What do you think of those two with whom the Third
is Allâh?'
It was really a Divine miracle; the
chasers were only few steps from the cave.
The Battle of the Ditch
It was the winter season, the air was cold
and there was a food crisis in Medina, which was about to come under a brutal
siege, and there is nothing more deadly to the spirit of resistance than
despair, for if the besieged were to be exposed to its violent bouts, the way
of humiliating surrender would be the only alternative.
For this reason, the Prophet (PBUH) strove
hard to arouse the moral strength of his men to the highest pitch so that
they'd feel certain that the trial which faced them was just a passing cloud
which would soon disperse, and thereafter Islam would resume its march and
people would enter into it in large numbers, and the strongholds of tyranny
would crumble before it and no plots would come from them nor would any evil be
feared from them. It is a rule of politics that this wide hope should accompany
the stages of ceaseless effort.52
Another illustrious
preternatural example went to the effect that an obstinate
rock stood out as an immune obstacle in
the ditch. The Prophet (PBUH) took the spade and struck, and the rock
immediately turned into a loose sand dune.
So when the confederates swept down upon
Medina and laid a tight siege around it, the Muslims didn't give up in despair
but faced the bitter reality with unshakeable hope in a noble future. "And
when the true believers saw the clans, they said: this is that which Allah and
His Messenger promised us. Allah and His Messenger are true. And it increased
them only in faith and acceptance." (Holy Qur'an, 33:22)
As for the weaklings, the doubters and the
sick of heart, they made fun of the promises of victory and thought them to be
the desires of deluded people, and they said to the Prophet's companions: 'He
tells you that he sees from Yathrib the palaces of Heerah and the city of Kisra,
while you are there digging the ditch and you cannot pass stool (for fear).'
About them Allah says, "And when the
hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease (of doubts,) said: 'Allah
and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion!" (Holy Qur'an, 33:12)
Twelve or thirteen years later, the
Prophet's promise about Persia came true. Maybe it should be noted here that
the hypocrites of today are also telling us that Allah has promised us nothing
but delusion. Allah says, "Allah is predominant over his affair, but most
of the people do not know." (Holy Qur'an, 12:21)53
Despite his position as
leader, Prophet Muhammad never behaved as if he was greater or better than
other people. He never made people feel small, unwanted or embarrassed. He
urged his followers to live kindly and humbly, releasing slaves whenever they
could and giving in charity, especially to very poor people, and the orphans,
without waiting for any reward.
Prophet Muhammad himself was never greedy.
He ate very little and only simple foods. He preferred never to fill his
stomach. Sometimes, for days on end, he would eat nothing but raw food. He
slept on a very simple mattress on the floor and had almost nothing in the way
of home comforts or decorations.
One day, Hafsah, his wife, tried to make
him more comfortable at night by folding his reed mat double - without telling
him - to make it softer for him. That night he slept peacefully, but he
overslept and missed the pre-dawn prayers. He was so distressed and never slept
like that again.
Simple living and contentment were the key
teachings in the Prophet's life: "When you see a person who has been given
more money and beauty than you, look then to those who have been given
less." Thinking this way will make us thank Allah for His blessings,
rather than feel deprived.
People used to ask his wife, 'Aishah, the
daughter of his first and most loyal Companion Abu Bakr, how he lived at home.
"Like an ordinary man," she would answer. "He would sweep the
house, stitch his own clothes, mend his own sandals, water the camels, milk the
goats, help the servants at their work, and eat his meals with them; and he
would go to fetch what we needed from the market."
He seldom had more than one set of
clothes, which he washed himself. He was a home-loving, peace-loving human
being. "When you enter a house, ask God to bless it," he would say.
He greeted others with the phase: As-salamu alaykum - which means: "May
peace be upon you" - for peace is the most wonderful thing on earth.
Prophet Muhammad, a Simple Man54
He was a firm believer in
good manners, always greeting people kindly, and showing respect to elders. He
once said: "The dearest of you to me are those who have good
manners."
All his recorded words and actions reveal
him as a man of great gentleness, kindness, humility, good humour and excellent
common sense, who had a great love for animals and for all people, especially
his family.
Above all, he was a man who practiced what
he preached. His life, both private and public, was a perfect model for his
followers.55
There is a large collection
of the Prophet's ideas, thoughts, instructions, teachings, beliefs, morals,
manners and principles. The greatness and glory of Islam rests upon these
ideals. Only a portion of them are listed here.
Purity of Self
1. Wise is he who regards himself small,
and performs deeds that are useful
after death; foolish is he who is
controlled by his desires and expectant of
Allah's grace and mercy.
2. The strong man is he who controls
himself, not the one who throws down
his adversary.
3. Contentment is treasure that is never
empty.
4. To give up the unimportant is highly
religious.
5. Advice is a trust and wrong instruction
is a breach of trust.
6. To give up evil or wickedness is also a
charity.
7. Modesty is a branch of faith.
8. Health and comforts are blessings not
available to all.
9. Moderation in spending is equal to half
of one's income. (Spending with
sense is as good as half of one's income).
10. Careful thinking is wisdom.
11. The one who keeps promises is
righteous.
12. Wisdom is the greatest wealth.
13. Good speech is the charm of man.
Some of the Prophet’s Teachings56
14. Ignorance is the
greatest limitation.
15. One who is trustworthy is righteous.
16. Love is not as effective as good
manners.
17. Humility elevates one's position.
18. Alms-giving does not lead to decrease
of wealth.
19. Don't mock at your brother or you
might meet the same situation.
20. Bad manners spoil good qualities as
vinegar spoils honey.
Obedience to Parents
1. Allah is pleased when the father is
pleased. Allah is displeased when the
father is displeased.
2. Of all the deeds performed, offering
prayers on time is the best, and then
the second in importance is obedience to
parents.
3. The greatest sins are polytheism,
disobedience to parents, giving false
evidences and telling lies.
Behavior with Relatives
"Kinship"[ in Arabic- rahim] is
derived from "The Most Beneficent" [in Arabic-rahman]. The man who
maintains the bonds of kinship is close to Allah and one who severs relations
with his kin is forsaken by Allah.
Bringing up Daughters
1. One who raises and educates three or
two daughters or sisters, out of fear
of Allah, will go to Paradise (even if the
number is one).
2. Bringing up daughters is a test; one
who passes the test will be safe from
Hell. 57
Bringing up Orphans
One who brings up orphans will be with me
(the Prophet peace be upon him) like the two fingers of a hand (in the
Hereafter).
Obedience to Rulers
1. The ruler should be obeyed on the
earth.
2. Even if a slave happens to become your
ruler, you must obey him.
3. Kingdom is lost not through disbelief,
but through tyranny.
Kindness
One who is not merciful and kind cannot
expect mercy upon him.
Evils of Begging
1. One who begs is collecting fire (of
Hell) for himself, whether it is small or
great.
2. The worst person is he who begs in the
Name of Allah and still gets nothing.
Don't beg from men for Allah's sake. It is
better to demand from Allah
Himself.
Cooperation
1. Those who are not kind to the young and
do not respect the elders, do not
belong to us.
2. Be kind to people on the earth and
Allah will be Merciful in Heaven.
3. In friendliness and sympathy, the
Muslims are like a building in which the
bricks strengthen one another.
4. To meet cheerfully, to talk about
virtues, to prevent people from vices and
villainy, to show the right path to those
who have lost the way, to lead weak-
sighted persons on the way, to remove
thorns, stones, and bones from
paths and to draw water from wells for
others, are all deeds of virtue.
5. To greet people and to feed the poor
and to pray at night while people are
asleep are the good signs of Islam. 58
6. Only courteous men will
be close and dear to me on the Day of Judgment.
I shall be disgusted and distant from
those who are not well-behaved. I am
also sick of those who talk nonsense,
discuss things irresponsibly and are
proud.
7. To live comfortably is not arrogance.
Arrogance is to despise the people
and to reject the truth.
8. Love all; in it is half of wisdom.
9. Don't behave well only when others
behave well and to mischief if others
do mischief. Instead, try to behave well
with those who behave well with you
and do not create mischief if they do
likewise.
The Greatness of Learning
1. One who seeks knowledge finds the road
to Paradise easier.
2. Knowledge is obligatory upon every
Muslim.
3. Quest for learning is atonement for
past sins.
4. Learning is greater than devotion and
optional prayer in importance.
5. Knowledge and wisdom are your lost
treasures; seek them wherever they
are.
6. He who conceals his knowledge will be
chained with fire.
7. Nothing in the world is better than the
collecting of knowledge and patience.
Treatment of Slaves, Women Servants and Attendants
1. Men slaves and women slaves are like
your brothers and sisters. Allah has
kept them under your supervision. Equal
treatment is to be given to them in
food and clothing. They should not be
asked to bear more than their strength
and capacity. In difficult tasks they
should be given assistance and support.
2. To liberate men slaves or women slaves
is to get liberated from Hell.59
Ex. No. (1)
It was narrated that ‘Aisha, May Allah be
pleased with her, said to the Prophet, Peace be upon him: "Have you ever
come across a day harder than the day of Uhod (one of the battles with the
polytheists, in which Muslims were defeated failing to comply with the
Prophet's instructions)?" He replied: "I have suffered from your
people a lot. The hardest I suffered was on the day of Akaba (a place name). I
brought out my message to Abd Yaleil bin Abd Kalal. He did not respond positively
to what I called him for. I left there with a grief-stricken face. I did not
wake up from that feeling, until I was near Karn-Ath- Tha-aleb (a place name).
I raised my head, where I found a cloud casting its shadow over me. Upon
looking, I saw Jibril (the angel) into it. He called upon me: Allah (the
Almighty) has heard the saying of your people, and what kind of reply they gave
to you. Allah has sent the angel of the mountains for you ready to do with them
whatever you ask. The angel of the mountains called, and saluted me saying:
"Oh Muhammad, what I do will be as you request. If you want, I close the
two mountains on them?" The Prophet, Peace be upon him, replied:
"Instead of that, I am hoping that Allah (the Al mighty) will create from
their offspring people who worship Allah alone, without ascribing partners unto
Him" narrated by Al Bukhari.
Ex. No. (2):
It was narrated that Ibn-Omar (the son of
Omar), May Allah be pleased with both of them, said that after one of the
battles of the Prophet PBUH, a woman was found killed. In response, the Prophet
PBUH prohibited the killing of women and children. Narrated by Al Bukhari.
Ex. No. (3):
Anas-bin-Malek, May Allah be pleased with
him, said:
A Jewish youth who served the Prophet,
Peace be upon him, became ill, and the Prophet paid him a visit. The Prophet,
peace be upon him, sat near the
Examples of the Prophet’s Mercy upon non-Muslims60
youth's head, and he spoke
to him saying: "Embrace Islam". The youth averted his eyes towards
his father, who was also beside him. The father told his son: "Obey
Abal-Kassem (one of the common names of the Prophet PBUH)". The youth
embraced Islam (before dying), and the Prophet, peace be upon him, went out
saying: "Thanks to Allah (the Almighty) Who rescued him from hellfire."
narrated by Al Bukhari.
Ex. No. (4):
Abdullah Ibn-Amr, May Allah be pleased
with both, reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
"He who kills a promisor (a
non-Muslim living among Muslims where he is promised to have protection, and he
promises not to help enemies against Muslims, hence, he is called 'a
promisor'), will not smell the fragrance of paradise, though its fragrance is
recognizable from a distance of forty years." narrated by Al Bukhari.
Ex. No. (5):
Boraida-bin-Al-Hosaib reported that when
the Prophet, peace be upon him, delegated a prince to lead an army or a small
army, he advised him, and Muslims with him, to be devoted to Allah, and to act
to the common good. Then, he said: "Your battle should be in the name of
Allah, and for His sake. Fight disbelievers. Fight, but don't exaggerate, don't
cheat, don't mutilate, don't kill a new-born child. If you meet your enemies of
polytheists call them for one of three options. Whatever they take, you must
accept, and stop fighting them. Call them to Islam. If they take it, accept,
and stop fighting them. Then call them to transfer from their home to the home
of immigrants (Al Madina, or Hijra house, where all Muslims, at the start of
Islam gathered). Tell them if they do so, they will have the same rights and
duties of the immigrants. If, however, their choice was not to transfer from
home, their status will be the same as the Muslim Bedouins (away in the
desert), by the command of Allah not having the right for spoils or almsgiving
unless they join holy war (Jihad) beside other Muslims. If they refused (Islam)
ask them to pay the tribute (tax taken from non-Muslims for protection). If
they gave a positive reply, accept that, and stop fighting them. If they
refused, seek the help of Allah, and fight them. If you lay a siege around a
fortress, and they ask to have the warranty of Allah and the warranty of his
Messenger, do not give them the warranty of Allah and the warranty of his
Messenger. But give them your warranty and the warranty of your companions.
Observing your warranty and the warranty of 61
your companions will be
easier than observing the warranty of Allah and the warranty of his Messenger.
If you lay a siege around a fortress, and its people ask to be brought down to
the judgement of Allah, don't bring them down to the judgement of Allah. But,
bring them down to your own judgement, since; you never know whether your
judgement will be the same as the right judgement of Allah about them or
not." narrated by Muslim.
Ex. No. (6):
Abu Huraira, May Allah be pleased with
him, reported that the Prophet, Peace be upon him, delegated some horsemen to a
place called Najd. The horsemen captured a man from the tribe of Bani-Hanifa
called Thomama-bin-Athal. They tied the captive to one of the posts in the
mosque. The Prophet, Peace be upon him, came out to him saying: "How do
you find yourself Thomama?" Thomama replied: "Good, Muhammad. If you
kill me, you shed (retaliatory) blood. If you pardon me, you do a favour to an
appreciative person. If you are seeking money, ask whatever amount you
want." He was left until the next day. The Prophet, Peace be upon him,
asked him the same question (the next day), and he replied "The same like
yesterday, if you pardon me, you do a favour to an appreciative person".
The Third day, The Prophet, Peace be upon him, asked him the same question, and
the captive gave the same reply. The Prophet, Peace be upon him, said"
"Set Thomama free!". Thomama went to a place near the mosque where he
washed (did ablution; Wudu’), and came back to the mosque giving the testimony
"I bear witness that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah". Then, he added: "I swear by Allah, that on earth
no face was more hateful to me than your face. Now, your face is the one I love
most. I swear by Allah, your religion was the one I disliked most. Now, it is
the religion I like most. I swear by Allah, your city was the worst place for
me. Now, it is your city which I like most. Your horsemen took me, when I was
going for Omra (a smaller pilgrimage out of the normal time of Haj that was
also practiced by polytheists before Islam imitating the monotheist religion of
Abraham, PBUH). So, what is your decision?" The Prophet, Peace be upon
him, announced him and ordered him to go for Omra. When he went to Makkah,
somebody there said to him: "You have changed your religion!" (a
shameful accusation for them) "No." he replied, "But I joined Islam
with Muhammad, Peace be upon him. From now on, you will not receive even one
grain of wheat from (my land) Al-Yamama, unless by the permission of the
Prophet, Peace be upon him." narrated by Al Bukhari. 62
Ex. No. (7):
Khalid-bin-Al-Walid, May Allah be pleased
with him, said: "I joined the Prophet, Peace be upon him, at the battle of
Kheibar, where the Jews came complaining that people were harrying to their
warehouses." (In response), the Prophet, Peace be upon him, said:
"The possessions of promisors are not permissible unless by a rightful
claim". Narrated by Abu-Dawood with a sound reference.
Ex. No. (8):
Sahel-bin-Saad-As-Sa’edi, May Allah be
pleased with him, reported that he heard the Prophet, Peace be upon him, saying
on the day of Kheibar battle:
"I will give the flag to the man that
Allah brings victory through him" The companions stood up to see which of
them will be given the flag. Then, he said: "Where is Ali?" He was
given the answer that Ali, May Allah be pleased with him, was suffering from
pain in his eyes. He called Ali, supplicated Allah (the Almighty) for Ali's
cure, spitting in Ali's eyes. Ali was cured on the spot, as if he suffered no
pain. Ali, May Allah be pleased with him, said: "We fight them until they
are (Muslims) like us"? The Prophet, Peace be upon him, replied "Wait
until you are on their land. Then, call them to Islam, and tell them their
duties, I swear, that if Allah guided even a single man through you, will be
better for you than getting the most expensive livestock." narrated by Al
Bukhari, and Muslim.
Ex. No. (9):
It was reported that Abu Huraira, May
Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, Peace be upon him, was asked
to invoke Allah (the Almighty) against polytheists. He replied: "I was not
sent out for cursing, I was sent out as a mercy" narrated by Muslim.
Ex. No. (10):
It was reported that Abu Huraira, May
Allah be pleased with him, said: "I called my mother for Islam, when she
was still a polytheist. One day, upon calling her, she said to me words about
the Prophet, Peace be upon him that I hate. I went to the Prophet, Peace be
upon him, crying. I said: "Messenger of Allah! I was calling my mother to
Islam, but she was refusing. Today, I called her, but she said to me words
about you that I hate. Supplicate that Allah (the 63
Almighty) guide mother of
Abu Huraira to Islam". At that the Prophet, Peace be upon him, said:
"Oh Allah! I call upon you to guide the mother of Abu Huraira". I
went out very happy at the supplication of the Prophet, Peace be upon him.
Going back home, when I was near the door, my mother heard my steps. "Stay
where you are Abu Huraira!" she shouted. I heard the sound of pouring
water. Then, after washing, dressing, and putting on her veil, she opened the
door, and said: "Abu Huraira, I bear witness that there is no God but
Allah, and that Muhammad (PBUH) is His Slave and His Messenger" I went
back to the Prophet, Peace be upon him, crying this time out of joy, and I said
to him: "Oh Messenger of Allah! I have the good news that Allah (the
Almighty) responded to your supplication, and guided the mother of Abu
Huraira". The Prophet, Peace be upon him, thanked Allah, and praised Him,
and said good words. Then, I said: "Oh, Messenger of Allah! Supplicate
Allah that His slaves and believers love both me and my mother, and make us
love believers. The Prophet, Peace be upon him, said: "Oh Allah! I call
upon you to make this little slave of yours – he means Abu Huraira – and his
mother, beloved to your slaves and believers, and make your slaves and
believers beloved to them." No believer on earth who heard of me or saw
me, but he loved me" narrated by Muslim.
Ex. No. (11):
It was reported that Abu Huraira, May
Allah be pleased with him, said: "Tofail-bin-Amr-Ad-Dawsi and his companions,
came to the Prophet, Peace be upon him, and said: "Messenger of Allah!
Daws (a tribe name) disobeyed and revolted against us, invoke Allah (the
Almighty) against them. Thinking that the Prophet PBUH would do that, the
people said: "Aws has perished". The Prophet, Peace be upon him,
said: "Oh Allah! I call upon you to favour Awas with your guidance, and
bring them". Narrated by Bukhary
Ex. No. (12):
It was reported that Jabir-bin-Abdullah,
May Allah be pleased with both of them said: "Oh! "Messenger of
Allah, we have been hit severely by the fire arrows of Thakif (a tribe name),
invoke Allah (the Almighty) against them. The Prophet, Peace be upon him, said:
"Oh Allah! I call upon you to favour Thakif with your guidance"
narrated by Al-Tirmizi with a sound reference.64
Almost everyone on the earth
today is discussing Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. People want to know,
"Who was he exactly?" "What did he teach?" "Why was he
loved so much by some and hated so much by others?" "Did he live up
to his claims?" "Was he a holy man? "Was he a prophet of
God?" "What is the truth about this man - Muhammad?"
How can we discover the truth and be totally honest in our
judgment?
We will begin with the very simple
historical evidences, facts as narrated by thousands of people, many of whom
knew him personally. The following is based on books, manuscripts, texts and
actual eyewitness accounts, too numerous list herein, yet all have been
preserved in original form throughout the centuries by both Muslims and non-Muslims.
Muhammad ibn (son of) Abdullah ibn (son
of) Abdul Mutalib, was born in the year 570 C.E. (Christian Era) in Makkah,
Felix Arabia (today: Saudi Arabia) and he died in 633 C.E. in Yathrib (today:
Madinah, Saudi Arabia).
A. His names: When he was born, his grandfather, Abdul Mutalib, gave
him
the name Muhammad. And it means
"praised one" or "praising one." He was later called
"As-Saddiq" (the Truthful) by all of those who knew of his truthful
and honest nature. He always said only the truth. He was also called "Al -
Alamin" (the Trustworthy) due to his integrity and always upholding any
trust given to him. When the tribes were battling against each other, both
sides would entrust him with their possessions during the fighting, even if it
might be against some of his own tribesmen, because they knew he would always
uphold any trust given to him. All of his names indicated the very nature of a
man who was praised for his honesty, integrity and trustworthiness. He was also
well known for advocating the reconciliation of kinship and relationships. He
ordered his followers to always honor the "ties of the wombs"
(siblings and other close relatives).
This fits right in with the prophecy
mentioned in the Bible in the Book of
What did Prophet Muhammad do?
Yusef Estes 65
John in chapters 14 and 16,
as the coming of a prophet known as the "Spirit
of Truth" or "Comforter" or
"Advocate."
B. Born as a descendent of Abraham, peace be upon him, through his
first
born son, Ishmail (Ismail in Arabic),
peace be upon him, to the noble tribe of the Quraish who were the leaders of
Makkah in those days. Muhammad's blood line traces directly back to Abraham,
peace be upon him.
This could certainly point to fulfillment
of Old Testament (Torah) prophecies in Deuteronomy (chapter 18:15) of a
prophet, like unto Moses from "their brethren."
C. He kept the Commandments of Almighty God, just as his great
grandfathers
and prophets of old had done in the past
(peace be upon them). Here is a statement from Muhammad, peace be upon him,
while the Quran was being revealed to him by the angel Gabriel:
"Come, I will recite what your Lord
has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and
dutiful to your PARENTS; do not kill your children because of poverty - (Allah)
provide sustenance for you and for them; do not come near to Al-Fawahish
(shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or
secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a just
cause. This He has commanded you that you may understand."
[Holy Qur’an 6:151]
D. Muhammad, peace be upon him, lived in total commitment to his
Belief in
One God, and as such, He was to be
worshipped alone, without any other "gods" beside Him. This is the
very first commandment in the Old Testament (Exodus chapter 20 and Deuteronomy,
chapter 5) and in the New Testament as well (Mark, chapter 12, verse 29).
E. Muhammad, peace be upon him, ordered his followers to obey Allah
Almighty. He ordered following the
Commandments as were revealed to him by the angel Gabriel from Almighty Allah.
Read below, one of many similar statements from the Quran:
Surely, Allah Commands absolute justice
and steadfast commitment to performing your duties to Almighty Allah, in total
sincerity and giving help to relatives: and He forbids evil, and disobedience
and all that is prohibited by Allah (such as; illegal sexual acts, disobedience
of PARENTS, 66
polytheism, to tell lies, to
give false witness, to kill a life without right, etc.), and (He Forbids) any
evil (i.e. all that is prohibited by God's Law, such as: polytheism of every
kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds, etc.), and all kinds of
oppression, He admonishes you, that you may take heed.
[Holy Quran 16:90]
F. Muhammad, peace be upon him, never fell into the common practice
of his
tribesmen to worship statues, idols or
man-made "gods." He forbid his followers to ever engage in worship
outside of the One True God (Allah) of Adam, Abraham, Moses and all the
prophets, peace be upon them all.
And the people of the Scripture Jews and
Christians did not differed amongst themselves until after there came to them
clear evidence.
And they were commanded only to worship
Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (no gods beside God), and perform prayers
and give charity: and that is the right religion.
[Holy Quran 98:4-5]
He despised false worship to any man-made
gods or images or anything in creation as a god. He hated all of the
complexities and degradation to which it leads.
This is in direct obedience to the second
commandment in the above mentioned verses, "Thou shalt not make any graven
images."
G. Muhammad, peace be upon him, always held the Name of God (Allah)
in
the highest of reverence and never took
God's Name in vain or for any vainglorious purpose.
He forbid his followers for ever doing
anything like this and encouraged them to use names such as "Servant of
Almighty God" (Abdullah).
H. Muhammad, peace be upon him, upheld the proper worship and
ceremonies of his grandfathers, Abraham
and Ishmail, peace be upon them. Here is something from the second chapter of
the Quran.
Read closely;
"Recall when Abraham's Lord (Allah)
tested him with Commands, that he
fulfilled. Allah said, "Surely, I am
going to make you a leader (prophet) of
mankind. (Abraham said) "And my
offspring, too." (Allah) said, "My Covenant (prophethood, etc.) does
not include wrong-doers (thalimun). 67
"And recall when
(Allah) made the House (ka'bah in Bakkah, which later was
called "Makkah") a place of
resort for mankind and a place of safety. And it is your place of prayer, and
(Allah) commanded Abraham and Ishmail to purify
(God's House at Makkah) for those who are
circling it, or staying there or bowing or prostrating themselves (there, in
worship).
"And when Abraham said, 'My Lord,
make this city (Makkah) a place of security and provide its people with fruits,
for them that believe in Allah Almighty and the Last Day.' (Allah) answered,
"As for him who doesn't believe, I shall leave him in contentment for a
while, then I shall compel him t the torment of the Fire, and worst indeed is
that destination!"
"And when Abraham and Ishmail were
raising the foundations of the Sacred House (Ka'bah in Makkah), saying, 'Our Lord!
Accept from us. Certainly! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.'"
"Our Lord! And make us submissive
unto You and of our offspring a nation submissive unto You, and show us our
Manasik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage - Hajj and 'Umrah, etc.), and accept
our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most
Merciful
"Our Lord! Send amongst them a
Messenger of their own (and indeed Allah answered by sending Muhammad Peace be
upon him ), who shall recite unto them Your Verses and instruct them in the
Book (this Qur'an) and full knowledge of (Allah's) Laws and jurisprudence, and
sanctify them. Verily! You are the All- Mighty, the All-Wise."
And who turns away from the religion of
Abraham (Monotheism) except him who fools himself? Truly, (Allah) chose him in
this world and verily, in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous.
When his Lord said to him, "Submit
("Islam" means "submission")!" He said, "I have
submitted myself ("Muslim" means "one who submits") to the
Lord of all that exists."
And this (submission to Allah) was ordered
by Abraham upon his sons and by Jacob; saying, "O my sons! Allah has
chosen for you the (true) religion; then die not except in the Faith of
Submission (like those in true submission to God's Will).”
[Holy Qur’an 2:124-132] 68
I. Muhammad, peace be upon him, performed
these same ceremonies in
worship to what we find the prophets doing
before him, bowing to toward the ground and prostrating (falling on the face)
while praying and worshipping.
He would face Jerusalem for his
devotionals and commanded his followers to do the same (until Allah sent down
the angel Gabriel with revelation to change the direction (qibal) mentioned in
Qur’an).
J. Muhammad, peace be upon him, advocated rights for all members of
the family and especially ties to the
parents, both mother and father, also rights for infant girls, orphaned girls
and certainly for wives, as well.
It is known from the Qur’an, Muhammad,
peace be upon him, ordered his followers to be kind and respectful to their
parents. They were told not to even say, "Ooh" to them while caring
for them in their old age. Read from the Qur’an:
And your Lord has decreed that you worship
none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both
of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor
shout at them but address them in terms of honor.
[Holy Qur’an 17:23]
K. Muhammad, peace be upon him, was the defender of the orphans and
even the newborn children. He ordered the
care of orphans and feeding of the poor as the means to enter Paradise and if
anyone held back the rights of those who were destitute, they could forget
about ever seeing Paradise. He also forbid the killing of new born girls, as
was a custom of ignorance according to primitive Arab traditions. This is
referred to in the Qur’an; when, on the Day of Judgment those who practiced the
evil deed of terminating the life of their own infant daughters, will have it
exposed, the Qur’an says:
And when the female (infant) buried alive
(as the pagan Arabs used to do) is going to be asked; about what sin could she
(as an infant) have possibly committed."
[Holy Qur’an 81:8]
Those who spend their wealth (in Allah's
Cause) by night and day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward
with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.
[Holy Qur’an 2:274] 69
L. Muhammad, peace be upon him, ordered men
not to "inherit women
against their will," and not to marry
them accept by mutual consent and never to touch their wealth or inheritance in
order to improve their own financial conditions.
O you who believe! You are forbidden to
inherit women against their will, and
you should not treat them with harshness,
that you may take away part of the Mahr you have given them, unless they commit
open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honorably. If you dislike
them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great
deal of good.
[Holy Qur’an 4:19]
We also notice from this verse, He forbid
the common practice of wife-beating and abuse, (his own wife said he never once
hit her).
He never once engaged in sex outside of
marriage, nor did he ever approve of it, even though it was very common at the
time. His only relationships with women were in legitimate, contractual
marriages with proper witnesses according to law. His relationship to Ayesha
was only that of marriage. He did not marry her the first time her father
offered her hand to him in marriage. He married her only after she reached the
age of puberty and could decide for herself. Their relationship is described in
every detail by Ayesha herself in the most loving and respectful manner as a
match truly made in heaven. Ayesha is considered as one of the highest scholars
of Islam and lived out her entire life only having been married to Muhammad,
peace be upon him. She never desired any other man, nor did she ever utter a
single negative statement against Muhammad, peace be upon him.
M. Muhammad, peace be upon him, ordered men to "provide and
protect"
women, whether it was their own mother,
sister, wife or daughter or even those of others, whether they were Muslims or
not.
"Men are the protectors and
maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other,
and because they spend (to support the women) from their means. Therefore the
righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and
guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their
chastity, their husband's property, etc.).
As to those women on whose part you see
illconduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds, startle them (set forth
a clear example or parable for them, 70
to make clear the point of
what is going on before divorcing them) so if they
return to proper obedience (to Allah and
their husbands), do not annoy them any further. Surely, Allah is Ever Most
High, Most Great."
[Holy Qur’an 4:34]
N. Muhammad, peace be upon him, prohibited killing of children for
fear of
poverty and also forbade killing any
innocent people.
Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Come, I will
recite what your Lord has prohibited you from: Join not anything in worship
with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because
of poverty - We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to
Al-Fawahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed
openly or secretly, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for a
just cause (according to Law). This He has commanded you that you may
understand.
[Holy Qur’an 6:151]
O. Muhammad, peace be upon him, never committed adultery, and he
required his followers to engage only in
lawful marriage relationships with
women, and forbid sex outside of Almighty
God's Ordinance.
Satan (the devil) threatens you with
poverty and orders you to commit Fahsha (evil deeds, illegal sexual
intercourse, sins etc.); whereas Allah promises you Forgiveness from Himself
and Bounty, and Allah is All- Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All-Knower.
[Holy Qur’an 2:268]
Say (O Muhammad SAW): "(But) the
things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are AlFawahish (great evil sins, every
kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly,
sins (of all kinds), unrighteous oppression, joining partners (in worship) with
Allah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allah of
which you have no knowledge."
[Holy Qur’an 7:33]
And come not near to the unlawful sexual intercourse.
Verily, it is a Fahishah [i.e. anything that transgresses its limits (a great
sin)], and an evil way (that leads one to Hell unless Allah forgives him).
[Holy Quran 17:32]
The adulterer marries not but an
adulteress or a Mushrikah and the adulteress none marries her except an
adulterer or a Muskrik [and that means that the
man who agrees to marry (have a sexual
relation with) a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan or idolatress) or a
prostitute, then surely he is either an adulterer, or a Mushrik (polytheist,
pagan or idolater, etc.) And the woman who agrees to marry (have a sexual
relation with) a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater) or an adulterer, then
she is either a prostitute or a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan, or idolatress,
etc.)]. Such a thing is forbidden to the believers (of Islamic Monotheism).
[Holy Qur’an 24:3]
Verily, those who like that (the crime of)
illegal sexual intercourse should be propagated among those who believe, they
will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows
and you know not.
[Holy Qur’an 24:19]
O Prophet! When believing women come to
you to give you the pledge, that they will not associate anything in worship
with Allah, that they will not steal, that they will not commit illegal sexual
intercourse, that they will not kill their children, that they will not utter
slander, intentionally forging falsehood (i.e. by making illegal children
belonging to their husbands), and that they will not disobey you in any Ma'ruf
(Islamic Monotheism and all that which Islam ordains) then accept their Bai'a
(pledge), and ask Allah to forgive them, Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
[Holy Qur’an 60:12]
People committed fornication and adultery
in most places around the word in Muhammad's time, yet he never once did so,
and he forbade all of his followers from this evil practice.
P. Muhammad, peace be upon him, forbade usury and interest on money
lending, as Jesus, peace be upon him, had
done centuries before him. It can be easily shown how usury eats away at wealth
and destroys the economic systems throughout history. Yet, just as in the
teachings of the prophets of old, Muhammad, peace be upon him, held that such
practices were most evil and must be avoided in order to be at peace with the
Creator (Allah).
Those who eat usury (deal in interest)
will not stand (on the Day of Resurrection) except like the standing of a
person beaten by Satan leading 72
him to insanity. That is
because they say: "Trading is only like usury," whereas Allah has
permitted trading and forbidden usury. So whosoever receives an admonition from
his Lord and stops eating usury shall not be punished for the past; his case is
for Allah (to judge); but whoever returns to dealing in usury, such are the
dwellers of the Fire - they will abide therein. Truly those who believe, and do
deeds of righteousness, and perform Salat, and give Zakat, they will have their
reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. O you
who believe! Be afraid of Allah and give up what remains (due to you) from
usury, if you are believers. And if you do not do it, then take a notice of war
from Allah and His Messenger but if you repent, you shall have your capital
sums. Deal not unjustly, and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.
[Holy Qur’an 2:275-279]
Q. Muhammad, peace be upon him, never gambled and did not allow it.
Like
usury, gambling takes away wealth but at
an even faster pace.
“People ask you (Muhammad) about alcohol
and gambling. Say, 'There is
great sin in both of them and (some
benefit) for humans, but the sin is
greater than any benefit from them.' And
they ask you what they should
spend (for charity, etc.). Say, 'Whatever
is above your basic needs.' So,
Allah makes it clear to you His Laws in
order for you to give thought.”
[Holy Qur’an 2:219]
Gambling had not been viewed as so evil
until the time of Muhammad, peace be upon. Today, it is well established the
damage gambling causes to families and even mental health. The idea of getting
something for nothing is not the proper way of life prescribed by the teachings
of Muhammad, peace be upon him.
R. Muhammad, peace be upon him, never drank alcohol or strong drink,
even
though it was a very normal thing for
people of his time and place.
"O you believers! Intoxicating
drinks, gambling, fortune telling, etc. is the hated work of the devil. So stay
away from all of that horrible stuff, that you will be successful.”
“The devil only wants to create hatred between
you with intoxicants (alcoholic drinks, etc.) and gambling and to keep you from
the remembrance of Allah and from your proper worship (prayers). So, why won't
you away from them?”
[Holy Qur’an 5:90-91] 73
The Arabs, like most other
cultures at his time, drank alcohol without concern for their health or for
their altered behavior while intoxicated. Many of them were alcoholics.
In today's world there is little need to
present long discussions on the evil and angers of drinking alcohol. Besides
causing diseases and ruining a person's health, alcohol is often attributed to
be the cause of many traffic accidents resulting in property damage, injuries
and deaths. The first order was for the followers of Muhammad, peace be upon
him, to leave off drinking while engaged in worship, then came stronger orders
to leave drinking all together. Thus, offering a time for the early Muslims to
break off from their addiction to strong drink.
S. Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not engage in gossip or
backbiting
and he always turned away from hearing
anything related to it.
O you who believe! If a rebellious evil
person comes to you with a news, verify it, lest you harm people in ignorance,
and afterwards you become regretful to what you have done.
[Holy Qur’an 49:6]
O you who believe! Do not allow one group
scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former;
nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better
than the former, nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames.
How bad is it, to insult one's brother after having Faith. And whosoever does
not repent, then such are indeed wrong-doers.
O you who believe! Avoid much suspicions,
indeed some suspicions are sins. And spy not, neither backbite one another.
Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it
(so hate backbiting) . And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts
repentance, Most Merciful.
[Holy Qur’an 49:11-12]
Certainly, these teachings would be well
appreciated in today's world where we find almost everyone engaging in the
worst of gossiping and insulting of others, even the closest of relatives and
loved ones.
T. Muhammad, peace be upon him, was most generous and encouraged
others to be the same way in their
dealings with others. He even asked them to forgive the debts of others with
hope of receiving a better reward with their Lord (Allah). 74
And if the debtor is in a
hard time (has no money), then grant him time till it is easy for him to repay,
but if you remit it by way of charity, that is better for you if you did but
know.
And be afraid of the Day when you shall be
brought back to Allah. Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they
shall not be dealt with unjustly.
[Holy Qur’an 2:280-281]
U. Muhammad, peace be upon him, commanded the payment of charity to
the poor and he was the defender and
protector of widows, orphans and the wayfarers.
"Therefore, do not oppress the
orphan, nor repulse the beggar."
[Holy Qur’an 93:9-10]
Charity is for the poor, who in Allah's
Cause are restricted (from travel), and cannot move about in the land (for
trade or work). The one who knows them not, thinks that they are rich because
of their modesty. You may know them by their mark, they do not beg of people at
all. And whatever you spend in good, surely Allah knows it well
[Holy Qur’an 2:273]
U. Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught people how to deal with the
most
extreme difficulties and tests the occur
to us throughout our lives. He held that only through patience and a humble
attitude would we find true resolution and understanding of life's
complications and disappointments. He the most patient of all and was exemplary
in his own humbleness. All who knew him had to admit to these virtues.
O you who believe! Seek help in patience
and the prayer. Truly! Allah is with the patient ones.
[Holy Qur’an 2:153]
He explained this life was a test from
Allah:
And certainly, Allah shall test you with
something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad
tidings to the patient ones.
[Holy Qur’an 2:155] 75
Who, when afflicted with
calamity, say: "Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall
return."
[Holy Quran 2:156]
V. Muhammad, peace be upon him, fasted for days at a time to be
closer
to Almighty God and away from the
narrowness of worldly attractions.
O you who believe! Observing the fasting
is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may
become pious.
Holy Quran 2:183
W. Muhammad, peace be upon him, called for an end to racism and
tribalism
from the beginning to the end of his
mission. He was truly the peacemaker for all times and all people.
O mankind! (Allah) has created you from a
male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one
another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who
is one of the pious. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
[Holy Qur’an 49:13]
And in another verse of the Qur’an:
“O mankind! Have piety and be most dutiful
to your Lord, Who created you from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam)
He created his wife (Eve), and from them both He created many men and women and
fear Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the
relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All-Watcher over
you”
[Holy Qur’an 4:1]
X. Regarding keeping up good relationships and bringing people back
together after a falling out, the Quran
says:
And if two parties or groups among the
believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both, but if one of
them rebels against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which
rebels till it complies with the Command of Allah; then if it complies, then
make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves
those who are equitable. 76
The believers are nothing
else than brothers to each other. So make reconciliation between your brothers,
and fear Allah, that you may receive mercy.
[Holy Quran 49:9-10] .
Y. Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught that Jesus, peace be upon him,
was the immaculate conception and miracle
birth of Mary, and that she was the best creation of Almighty God. He insisted
even to the Jews of Madinah, that Jesus, peace be upon him, was the Messiah,
the Christ, the one predicted to come in their Torah (Old Testament). He also
taught that Jesus, peace be upon him, did many miracles by the permission of
Almighty God, curing the lepers, restoring sight to the blind and even bringing
a dead man back to life, and he was not dead, rather Almighty God had raised
him up. He also predicted Jesus, peace be upon him, is going to return again in
the Last Days to lead the true believers in a victory over the evil and
unrighteous people, and he will destroy the Anti-Christ.
Z. Muhammad, peace be upon him, forbade any killing, even when his
followers were being killed, until the
orders for retaliation came from Allah.
Even then the limits were clearly spelled out
and only those engaged in active combat against the Muslims or Islam were to be
fought in combat. And even then, only according to very strict rules from
Allah.77
Muhammad (peace be upon him)
taught many important principles and morals, and even set forth rules for
combat setting the precedent and still exceeding the rules of war set forth by
the Geneva Convention.
Consider the following:
All innocent life was sacred and as such
none could be harmed, except those who were engaged against them in active
combat. Saving one life was as if one had saved the entire world, while taking
an innocent life was as if one had taken the lives of the entire world.
There was to be no genocide of any tribes
even up until some had committed genocide against some Muslims. He offered
mutual protection and forgiveness to the all even after certain ones broke
their covenants with him many times. He did not allow them to be attacked until
it was clearly proven they were traitors during time of war and tried to bring
down the prophet (peace be upon him) and the Muslims at any cost. Retaliation
was only to those Jews who had turned traitor and not others.
Slaves were common in those days for all
nations and tribes. It was Islam that encouraged freeing of the slaves and the
great reward from Allah for those who did so. Prophet (peace be upon him) gave
the example of this by freeing slaves and encouraging all of his followers to
do the same. Examples include his own servant (who was actually considered like
a son to him) Zaid ibn Al Haritha and Bilal the slave who was bought by Abu
Bakr only for the purpose of freeing him.
While there were many attempts of
assassination made on Muhammad (peace be upon him) (most famous was the night
that Ali took his place in bed while he and Abu Bakr escaped to Madinah), he
did not allow his companions to slaughter any of those who had been involved in
these attempts. Proof for this is when they entered Makkah triumphantly and his
first words were to command his followers not to harm such and such tribes and
so and so families. This was one of the most famous of his acts of forgiveness
and humbleness.
What Did Muhammad Say?
Yusuf Estes78
Military combat was forbidden for the first thirteen years of
prophet hood. The desert Arabs did not need anyone to tell them how to fight or
do combat. They were experts in this area and held feuds amongst tribes that
lasted for decades. It was not until the proper method of warfare was
instituted by Allah in the Quran, with proper rights and limitations according
His Commandments, that any retaliation or combat was sanctioned. Orders from
Allah made it clear who was to be attacked, how and when and to what extent fighting
could take place.
Destruction of infrastructures is
absolutely forbidden except when it is ordained by Allah in certain instances
and then only according to His Commands.
Cursing and invoking evil actually came to
the prophet (peace be upon him) from his enemies, while he would be praying for
their guidance. Classic example is that of his journey to At-Taif where the
leaders would not even hear him out nor offer so much as the normal courtesy
called for and instead they set the children of the street against him,
throwing rocks and stones at him until his body was bleeding so much, blood
filled his sandals. He was offered revenge by the angel Gabriel, if he would
give the command, Allah would cause the surrounding mountains to fall down upon
them destroying them all. Instead of cursing them or asking for their
destruction, he prayed for them to be guided to worship their Lord alone,
without any partners.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
claimed every person who is born is born in a state of ISLAM (submission to God
on His Terms in Peace), as a Muslim (MU-Islam means; "one who does
ISLAM" i.e.; submits to God's Will and obeys His Commandments). He further
stated, God has created each person in the image that is His according to His plan,
and their spirit is His. Then as they grow older they begin to distort their
faith according to the influence of the prevailing society and their own
prejudices.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught his
followers to believe in the God of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David,
Solomon and Jesus, peace be upon them all, and to believe in them as true
prophets, messengers and servants of Almighty Allah. He insisted on ranking all
the prophets up at the highest level without any distinction between them, and
ordered his followers to say the words, "Peace be upon him" after
mentioning their names.
He also taught the Torah (Old Testament),
Zabur (Psalms) and Enjil (Gospel or New Testament) were originally from the
very same source as the Quran, from Allah to the angel Gabriel. He asked the
Jews to judge according to their 79
own Book,
and they tried to cover up some of it to hide the correct judgment, knowing he
(peace be upon him) could not read.
He prophesied, predicted and foretold of
events to come and they happened just as he had said they would. He mentioned
so many things that people of his time could not have known, yet we have seen
the evidences manifest over and over throughout the centuries in science,
medicine, biology, embryology, psychology, metrology, geology and many other
disciplines and even space travel and wireless communications, all of which we
take for granted today. He even predicted something from the past that would
come true in the future, and it has..
The Quran states pharaoh was drowned in
the Red Sea while chasing after Moses and Allah said He would preserve Pharaoh
as a sign for the future. Dr. Maurice Bucaille in his book, "Bible, Quran
and Science" makes it clear this has happened and the very person of
Pharaoh has been discovered in Egypt and is now on display for all to see.
This event took place thousands of years
before Muhammad (peace be upon him) and it came true in the last few decades,
many centuries after his death.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) or his
followers never at any time claimed that he was a son of God or the
God-incarnate or a man with divinity – but he always was and is even today
considered as only a Messenger chosen by God. He insisted people praise
Almighty God, alone and not to celebrate him or his companions in any way.
While most people do not hesitate to raise to divinity and even make 'gods' out
of other individuals whose lives and missions have been lost in legend.
Historically speaking, none of these legends achieved even a fraction of what
Muhammad (peace be upon him) accomplished.
Uniting mankind together for the purpose
of worshipping the One God of Adam and all the other prophets, peace be upon
them all, was his main motivating cause and his striving was for the sole
purpose having everyone to understand and follow the codes of moral excellence
set forth by Allah in His Revelations.
Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries,
the life and teachings of Muhammad (peace be upon him) have survived without
the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying
hope for treating mankind's many ills, which they did when he was alive. This
is not a claim of Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) followers, but the inescapable
conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.80
Muhammad (peace be upon him)
claimed to be a servant, messenger and prophet of the Almighty God; the same
God of Adam, Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon and of Jesus, the Christ, son of
Mary (peace be upon them all). He claimed he was receiving revelation from Almighty
God (Allah) through the Arch Angel Gabriel, calling it the Recitation (Quran).
He ordered people to believe in God as
One, without partners, and to follow the Commandments of Almighty God to the
best of their abilities.
He forbade himself and his followers from
evil practices and filthy habits, showing them the proper ways to eat, drink,
use the toilet and proper behavior in all relationships. This he claimed was
all from Allah.81
"His name was
Muhammad" (peace be upon him)
To begin: You may be a Christian
Protestant, Catholic, Jew, an atheist or an agnostic; or you may belong to any
of many different religious denominations existing in today's world. You might
even be a communist or believe in man's democracy as the rule on earth. Whoever
you are and whatever ideological or political beliefs, social habits you may
hold, there is no doubt - you should understand what others have to say about
this man.
The world has had its share of great
personalities. But these were one sided figures who distinguished themselves in
but one or two fields, such as religious thought or military leadership. The
lives and teachings of these great personalities of the earth are shrouded in
the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and place 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 is
impossible for humanity to reconstruct, accurately the lives and teachings of
these men and women.
But this is not the case of this man,
Muhammad (peace be upon him) who accomplished so much in such diverse fields of
human thought and behavior in the fullest blaze of human history. Every detail
of his private life and public utterances has been accurately documented and faithfully
preserved up until our day. The authenticity of the records so preserved is
vouched for not only by the faithful followers but even by his prejudiced
critics.
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 equaled him in
any of these different aspects of life - but it was only for the selfless
personality of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to achieve such incredible
perfection.
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,
What did his Followers say?
Yusuf Estes82
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 behavior for all times to come.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in
what was then known as Felix Arabia, fourteen hundred years ago. He started his
mission of preaching a religion of monotheism; a Way of Life based on the
surrender, submission and obedience to the Commandments of Almighty God, in
sincerity and peace.
The word "Islam" in Arabic means
"the submission to God, in peace."
Muhammad's (peace be upon him) mission
began at the age of forty and departed from this world at the age of
sixty-three. During this short period of 23 years of his prophethood, he
changed the complete Arabian Peninsula from paganism and idolatry to worship of
One God, from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion,
from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety, from lawlessness and
anarchy to disciplined living, from utter bankruptcy to the highest standards
of moral excellence.
Human history has never known such a
complete transformation of a people or a place before or since - and IMAGINE
all these unbelievable wonders in JUST OVER TWO DECADES.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) was nothing
more or less than a human being. but he was a man with a noble mission, which
was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE and ONLY ONE 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 so indeed every
action of his proclaimed to be.
Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries,
the life and teachings of Muhammad (peace be upon him) have survived without
the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying
hope for treating mankind's many ills, which they did when he was alive. This
is not a claim of Mohammed's(Peace Be Upon Him) followers, but the inescapable
conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.
The least YOU can do as a thinking and
concerned human being is to stop for a moment and ask your self: Could these
statements sounding so extraordinary and revolutionary really be true? And
supposing they really are true and you 83
did not know this man
Muhammad (peace be upon him) or hear about him, isn't it time you responded to
this tremendous challenge and put in some
effort to know him?
It will cost you nothing, but it may prove
to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life.
We invite you to make a discovery of this
wonderful man, Muhammad (peace be upon him) the like of whom never walked on
the face of this earth.84
Considering the qualities
and teachings of Muhammad (peace be upon him) testified to by some many people
throughout history and even testified to by Allah Himself, we conclude the
following to be only a partial list of the qualities, morals and virtues of
Muhammad (peace be upon him).
A. Articulate - Muhammad (peace be upon him) although
unable to read or write throughout his entire life, was able to express himself
in clear and decisive terms and in the best of classical Arabic language.
B. Brave - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was praised
for his courage and bravery during and after his life by his followers and
opponents alike. He has always been an inspiration to Muslims and even
non-Muslims throughout the centuries.
C. Courteous - Muhammad (peace be upon him) always put
other people's feelings ahead of his own and was the most courteous of hosts
and the best of guests wherever he went.
D. Dedicated - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was
determined to carry out his mission and present the message with which he had
been sent, to the entire world.
E. Eloquent - Muhammad (peace be upon him) claimed he
was not a poet, yet he could express himself in the most concise manner, using
the least amount of words in a most classic manner. His words are still quoted
by millions of Muslims and non-Muslims today everywhere.
F. Friendly - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was noted for
being the most friendly and considerate of all who knew him.
G. Generous - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was most
generous with his possessions and never wanted to keep anything if there was
anyone who was in need. This was true of gold, silver, animals and even food
and drink.
What do Muslims say about Muhammad?
Yusuf Estes85
H. Hospitable - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was indeed,
noted to be the most gracious of hosts and taught his companions and followers
to be the best of hosts to all their guests as a part of their religion.
I. Intelligent - Muhammad (peace be upon him) has been
proclaimed by many commentators who have studied his life and actions, to be of
the most intelligent of all men who ever lived.
J. Just - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was most fair
and just in all of his dealings. Whether in business or in giving judgment in
any matter, he practiced justice on all levels.
K. Kindness - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was kind and
considerate to everyone he met. He tired his best to present the message of
worship of the Creator instead of the creations to all he met in the kindest
fashion and most considerate manner.
L. Loving - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the most
loving toward Allah and to his family members, friends, companions and even
those who did not accept his message but remained peaceful to him and his
followers.
M. Messenger of Mercy - Muhammad (peace be upon him) is proclaimed
in the Quran by Allah, as being sent to the entire world as the "Mercy to
all mankind and jinn."
N. Noble - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the most
noble and distinguished of all men. Everyone knew of his fine character and
honorable background.
O. "Oneness" - Muhammad (peace be upon him) is most
famous for his proclamation of the "Oneness of Allah" or monotheism
(called "Tawhid" in Arabic).
P. Patient - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the most
steadfast and forbearing in all of the trials and tests he lived through.
Q. Quiet - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was often
very quiet and never was heard to be boastful, loud or obnoxious on any
occasion.
R. Resourceful - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was most
clever and resourceful in handling even the most serious of difficulties and
problems confronting him and his companions.86
S. Straightforward - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was known by
all to speak directly to a subject and not twist things around in his speech.
He also used a minimal amount of verbiage and considered excessive talk to be
vain and unproductive.
T. Tactful - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the most
delicate and tactful in his dealings with the people. He never scratched the dignity
of someone, even though unbelievers often insulted him and maligned him.
U. Unmatched - Muhammad (peace be upon him) is known
throughout the world today as the man who most influenced the lives of so many
people during his own time and for all times to come.
V. Valiant - Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave new
meaning to the word valiant and he was always most honorable in all of his
affairs, whether defending the rights of orphans or preserving the honor of
widows or fighting for those in distress. He was not intimidated when
outnumbered in battle, nor did he turn away from his duties in protecting and
defending the truth and freedom.
W. Wali - The Arabic word, “wali” (plural is owliya)
is a bit difficult to bring into English without some explanation. For this
reason I decided to leave it in Arabic and offer from my humble understanding
one of the most important aspects of the character and personality of the
prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Some say the word means; “protectors” and
others have said “darlings” or “those in whom you put full trust and confide
everything” like the Catholics might do with their priests. While still others
simply offered the word “friends.” While discussing this subject with one of my
beloved teachers, Salim Morgan, he mentioned to me the meaning might be closer
to the English word, “ally.” This is perhaps, a lot closer in meaning because
when a person gives their pledge of allegiance to someone he or she is taking
that person as a “wally” and this is called giving “bay’ah” in Arabic. Allah
tells us the Quran not to take the Jews and Christians as “owliya” in place of
Allah. While we understand the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) are the
closest to us in faith, at the same time we are instructed here not to take
anyone as our “confessor” or “intimate ally” or “one to whom we give our pledge
of allegiance” in place of Allah or His messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon
him). The prophet (peace be upon him) was the living example of the most
trustworthy and loyal of all human beings who ever lived on this earth.
Anything mentioned to him in confidence would never be divulged nor shared with
others. And when he was put in place of authority or “wali” over the people,
they found him to be the best of those to be trusted.87
X. "X" - Muhammad (peace be upon him) could neither
read nor write, not even his own name. In today's world he would have to use an
"X" to "sign" a document. He used a signet ring worn on the
little finger of his right hand to seal any documents or letters sent to the
leaders of other lands.
Y. Yielding - Muhammad (peace be upon him) would yield
his own desires and forego his own ideas in favor of whatever Allah directed
him to do. While considering opinions from his followers, he often accepted their
ideas over his own, preferring to yield in favor of others as much as possible.
Z. Zealous - Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the most
zealous of all the prophets of Allah, in carrying out his mission of
"Peace through the submission to the Will of God." He truly was the
most enthusiastic in regard to delivering the message with which he had been
entrusted by Allah; the message of "Laa elaha illa-allah,
Muhammadar-Rasululah" (There is none worthy of worship, except Allah and
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah).
Alief. "AJEEB" (AMAZING) - We
couldn't resist the chance for one more letter - even if it is the first letter
of the Arabic alphabet ("|" alief).
Muhammad was truly amazing in every
respect. He delivered a message of a complete and total way of life,
encompassing everything from the time a person wakes up until time to sleep and
from the cradle to the grave. And if someone were to follow this Way of Life
("deen" in Arabic), they would achieve the greatest success here in
this life and the greatest success in the Next Life as well.88
Muhammad, peace be upon him,
the last Messenger of Allah
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Muhammad, peace be upon him, the last Messenger of Allah89
"Are you that
Prophet" [Bible, John 1:20]
That Prophet?
Who was he?
Comparing Jesus & Muhammad
"The Comforter, the Spirit of Truth,
whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring
to your remembrance all that I said unto you."
[Bible - John 14:26]
Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "A
messenger will come after me, named Ahmad."
[Noble Quran 61:6]
The chief priests and Levites asked John
the Baptist, "If you are not the Christ (Messiah), and not Elijah - are
you THAT Prophet?"
[Bible - John 1:20]
When the chief priests and Levites asked
John the Baptist who he was, they asked him in a very strange way. First they
questioned him as to whether or not he was the anticipated "Messiah"
[Christ in Koine Greek]. He was not the "Messiah" that had hoped for.
Next they asked if he was the prophet Elijah and again he tells them,
"No." Now comes the really strange part. Finally, they asked him if
he is "That Prophet?"
Are you Christ? - [No]
Are you Elijah? - [No]
Are you THAT Prophet? - [No]
What did they mean by "That
Prophet?" We of course, know who the "Christ" is.
Comparing Jesus & Muhammad - peace be upon them.
Yusuf Estes90
After all, Christians should
know that "Christ" is merely a shortened form of the Koine Greek word
"christos," intended to mean the Hebrew word "Messiah."
The Jews of two thousand years ago were
definitely looking for the Messiah, who it was foretold in their books, would
come and lead them to victory over their oppressors and thus gain for them
mastery over this world. They were much oppressed under Roman domination and
even their own Jewish kings were seen as nothing more than puppets or agents
for the disbelievers. Certainly, they would have been most happy to see someone
come on the scene who would defeat their Roman masters and slave drivers.
Then the priests and Levites asked John
the Baptist if he might be the prophet Elijah, returning back after hundreds of
years being away. There was the notion amongst them that Elijah would come
back. But again, John the Baptist is denying he is Elijah.
Then, who is he? They wonder at this man
living out in the desert and forsaking wealth and luxury and fasting, avoiding
the material attractions of life.
Again, they ask John the Baptist who he
is. "Are you THAT Prophet?" And one more time he denies being
"THAT Prophet," but then he does tell them about someone who will
come after him soon, whom he claims he is not worthy to even unlace his shoes.
However, this does not answer the
question, "Who were they expecting besides the Messiah?" Could it be
they were looking for someone like Muhammad? (Could be)
Who is THAT Prophet?
Keep reading and learn who "That
Prophet" is and what other proofs can be discovered within the Holy texts
to support this idea.
For centuries Muslims have believed Jesus
(peace be upon him) was "THAT Prophet" mentioned in these words of
the Gospel of John. The Quran states one of the important features of Jesus'
mission was to give the "bashir" or 'glad tidings' of the coming of
the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. During his short missionary career
that lasted not more than three years, and which was overshadowed by the
hostile attitude of his own people, Jesus gave them the good news of Ahmad,
(one of the forms of "Muhammad") the 91
last messenger of God, who
would perfect the divine teaching both in theory and in practice. The Quran
mentions that, Jesus says:
"O Children of Israel! I am the
messenger of Allah {Almighty God} (sent) to you, confirming the Law (Torah or
Old Testament) before me, and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after
me, whose name shall be Ahmad."
[Noble Quran 61:6]
The Quran gives the name as Ahmad, one of
several ways to say Muhammad's name. Just as we have in English the name
Joseph, and often use a shorter form such as "Joe" or the familiar
form, "Joey," and other names like "Jonathan" which becomes
"John"; "Jack" or "Johnny", so in the same way we
find Arabic has similar forms for a name. Muhammad, Ahmad and Hamad are a few
of the names originating from the root word, "hamd" (meaning 'praise)
in Arabic, and can be understood as "The one who praises (God)";
"the praised one"; "praising"; etc.
Abdullah Yusuf Ali in his translation of
the meanings of the Quran to English, he states, "Ahmad or Muhammad, the
Praised One is a translation of the Koine Greek word Periclytos. In the present
gospel of John 14:16, 15:26 and 16:7, the Greek word Paracletos is translated
in the NIV as Comforter. Paracletos can mean an Advocate, or "one called
to the help of another", "a kind friend." Muhammad (peace be
upon him) was known from birth as one who brought comfort and reconciliation to
family, friends and strangers alike, especially in bringing together the ties
of kinship and brotherly love.
Another nick name of the prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him) mentioned in the Bible (or at least what is left of it in
the English language) is "The Spirit of Truth." As-Saddiq means
exactly that and it is was another name given to Muhammad (peace be upon him)
by those who knew his proclivity for honesty and integrity.
The New Testament Gospel according to
John, Jesus (peace be upon him) promises them the Paracletos will come four
times (John 14:16; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7). Naturally, Jesus (peace be upon him)
did not return in their lifetime nor did any other prophet for that matter, so
later thinkers came up with the notion that it was not Jesus "in
person" but rather, Jesus coming back in "spirit form." This led
some Christians to assert, this was to be the Holy Spirit, who would descend upon
the disciples on the Day of the Pentecost (Acts 2), to witness Christ and lead
them into the whole truth and to be with the believers forever, 92
and they would not die (John
3:16), but have everlasting life. Also, some added verses later (see footnotes
to Revised Standard Version of the Bible) to the very last chapter of Mark
(16), wherein, they have the Spirit coming upon them in such a way they
imagined themselves going to be able to speak with new languages; pick up
snakes, lay hands on the sick to cure them and even drink poison and nothing
would hurt them. [Luke 23:17-18]
Another point is, the Paracletos,
comforter or the Spirit of truth, was going to dwell with us from now on.
Certainly anyone could see Muhammad's influence and his message of worshipping
only One God without any partners has prevailed long after his earthly life.93
Muhammed – A Brief Description
You may be a Christian Protestant,
Catholic, Jew, an atheist or an agnostic; or you may belong to any of many
different religious denominations existing in today's world. You might even be
a communist or believe in man's democracy as the rule on earth.
Whoever you are and whatever ideological
or political beliefs, social habits you may hold, there is no doubt -
You Must Know This MAN - MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him).
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
behavior for all times to come.
"HIS NAME IS MUHAMMAD" (peace be upon him)
He was born in Arabia in the year 570 C.E.
(Common Era), started his mission of preaching the religion of Truth, Islam
(submission to One God at the age of forty and departed from this world at the
age of sixty-three.
During this short period of 23 years of
his prophethood, he changed the complete Arabian Peninsula from paganism and
idolatry to worship of One God, from tribal quarrels and wars to national
solidarity and cohesion, from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety,
from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living, from utter bankruptcy to
the highest standards of moral excellence. Human history has never known such a
complete transformation of a people or a place before or since - and IMAGINE
all these unbelievable wonders in JUST OVER TWO DECADES.
The world has had its share of great
personalities. But these were one sided figures who distinguished themselves in
but one or two field, such as religious
Do you know this Man?
Yusuf Estes94
thought or military
leadership. The lives and teachings of these great personalities of the world
are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time
and place 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
is impossible for humanity to reconstruct accurately the lives and teachings of
these men.
Not so this man. Muhammad (peace be upon
him) accomplished so much in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior
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.
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 equaled him in
any of these different aspects of life - but it was only for the selfless
personality of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to achieve such incredible
perfection.
Muhammad (peace be upon
him) was nothing more or less than a human being. But he was a man with a noble
mission, which was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE and ONLY ONE 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 so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.
Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries,
the life and teachings of Muhammad (peace be upon him) have survived without
the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying
hope for treating mankind's many ills, which they did when he was alive. This
is not a claim of Mohammed's (peace be upon him) followers, but the inescapable
conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.
The least YOU can do as a thinking and
concerned human being is to stop for a moment and ask your self: Could these
statements sounding so extraordinary and revolutionary really be true? And
supposing they really are true and you did not know this man MUHAMMAD (peace be
upon him) or hear about him, isn't it time you responded to this tremendous
challenge and put in some effort to know him? 95
It will cost you nothing,
but it may prove to be the beginning of a completely new era in your life. By
Eng. Husain Pasha.
We invite you to make a discovery
of this wonderful man, MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him), the like of whom never
walked on the face of this earth.
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