Muhammad - The Prophet of Islam - Essay Example

Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) - The Prophet of Islam Before the advent of Islam, Arabia was inhabited by warring tribes, whose inter-tribal feuds lasted for generations, and at times culminated in bloody conflicts in which hundreds of precious lives were lost. The awakening and knowledge of truth had given way to ignorance so that God has been replaced by idol worship, and mankind and inanimate objects were adored. To some, man was a deity; to others, son of God; some were materialists and some others took their own souls as God. The sun was worshipped, the moon and the stars were regarded as Gods. Men worshipped animals, trees and rocks. They bowed before rocks. The bowed before fire, water, air, and dust. In short, everything in the universe was worth worshipping and the One they did not worship was the One Creator. They were totally unaware of His unity and their need of Him. If He was recognised to all by anyone, it was through intermediaries who too were worshipped. As given in Quran (Az-Zumar, 39:3): "We worship them only that they may bring us nearer to Allah". This was a dark period - the background - when the Sunnat Allah1 - the law of Allah for guidance and leaving anyone astray - repeated history and set in motion the natural law of reaction. The light of guidance shone and spread to the four corners removing the darkness of 'Shirk' (associated with God) and ignorance replacing it with faith and knowledge. In such a gloomy atmosphere which had encompassed pre-Islamic Arabia, there glittered a light in the birth of Muhammad (PBUH). Never before or after any individual placed in such adverse circumstances has so completely purged his society of the multifarious deep-seated evils, giving it a new and healthier shape, and had so much influenced the course of contemporary and future history. Muhammad's (PBUH) practical teachings had transformed a savage race into a civilized who brought about the most wonderful revolution in the history of mankind. He was the benefactor of humanity and being the last and greatest of all the prophets, his teachings were universal and for all times to come. The First verses that were revealed to Prophet (PBUH) were from Surah Al-Alaq: "Read in the Name of your Lord Who created - created man from a blood-clot. Read and your Lord is most Bountiful, who taught by the pen - taught man that he know not" (96:1-5). As it were these verses make perfect the purpose of human life. It has been told in Surah Al-Alaq that true knowledge was essential for attaining higher human qualities. Without that, life is meaningless. If anyone possesses true knowledge but is deficient in action then he does not derive the benefits and the knowledge is of no use. Muhammad (PBUH) was a great promoter of education and advocated the "pursuit of learning even unto distant China". He inculcated love for learning among the illiterate Arabs which paved the way for their outstanding intellectual achievements, ultimately making them pioneers in the domains of science and arts during the "Medieval times". Muhammad (PBUH) proclaimed the sovereignty of God and liberated mankind from the thralldom of unholy associations with His Divinity. He upheld the dignity of man and practiced the high ideals of equality, fraternity and justice he preached. He advocated the unity of God and thereby the unity and equality of mankind. He denounced the differences of colour and race and was the "Prophet in human colour and consequently a true specimen of Islamic unity and brotherhood". As the celebrated English writer Robert Briffault paid rich tributes to the teachings of Holy Prophet of Islam, when he said: "The ideals of freedom for all human beings, of human brotherhood, of the equality of all men before the law of democratic government, by consultation and universal suffrage, the ideas that inspired the French Revolution and the Declaration of Rights, that guided the framing of the American Constitution and inflamed the struggle for independence in the Latin-American countries were not inventions of the West. They are the quintessence of what the intelligentsia of medieval Europe acquired from Islam over a period of centuries through the various societies that developed in Europe in the wake of the Grusades in imitation of the brother hood associations of Islam. It is highly probable that but for the Arabs modern European civilization would never have arisen at all, it is absolutely certain that but for them it would never have assumed that character which has enabled it to transcend all previous phases of evolution"2. As a peace maker he set examples for the whole world to follow. The peace terms dictated by him on the conquest of Mak'ah stand as a landmark in the annals of treaties made among various nations of the world from time immemorial. No conqueror has ever offered more generous terms to the conquered, who were his sworn enemies and who harassed and maligned him throughout his life. Even his greatest living enemy, Abu Sufian, the leader of the nefarious Quraysh group, was not touched. So much so, when his ten thousand crack troops were grasping to avenge the misdeeds of the Quraysh of Mak'ah, the erstwhile enemies of Islam, the Prophet (PBUH) due to his boundless magnanimity and spirit of extra tolerance, gave orders not to strike anyone and declared that anyone who would take refuge in the house of Abu Sufian would be safe. As an administrator, the Prophet (PBUH) accomplished what looked like an impossible task and overcame situations which would have defied the ablest administrators of the world. The mission of Prophet (PBUH) was to emancipate mankind from the shackles of slavery - mental of physical. He translated his noble ideas into practice by establishing a State in Medina based on equality, liberty, fraternity and justice. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) possessed innumerable qualities of head and heart. He was a very kind-hearted man, who never abused or cursed anybody. Whenever such occasions arose and his Companions implored him to curse his tortures, he prayed for the latter's reformation. Once, while praying in Ka'ba when he prostrated, one of his opponents placed the heavy skin of a camel on his back. He remained in this condition for a pretty long time and till he was rescued by some of his Companions. Even then he did not curse the miscreant. On another occasion, when he had gone to Taif, the hostile elements instigated the hooligans and children to shower stone on his and his Companions. He was badly injured and his Companions requested him to curse the children. But, kind-hearted as he was always, he said instead: "O God, forgive these ignorant ones and show them the right path" (Bukhari). Once an evil-minded Jew became his guest. He entertained his to his fill and gave him his bedding to sleep, but, out of spite, the Jew discharged faeces on the bedding and slipped away, leaving his sword behind. The Prophet, finding his guest gone, was sorry because he had left his sword behind, and began to wash his bedding with his own hands. Meanwhile, the Jew returned to fetch his sword and observed the Prophet washing the dirtied bedding. The Prophet did not utter even a word of complaint. Instead he said: "Dear friend, you had left behind your sword. Here it is" (Bukhari). Struck by the unusual courtesy and angelic character of Muhammad (PBUH), the Jew instantaneously embraced Islam. The Prophet of Islam was totally impartial in his dealings with his relations and strangers. He refused a maid servant even to his dearest daughter, Fatima (May Lord be pleased with her), who was overworked and badly needed such a help. He, no doubt, advised his followers to help their relations, neighbours and needy persons according to their means. "No religion of the world prior to Islam", says Ameer Ali, "had consecrated charity, the support of the widow, the orphans and the helpless poor, by enrolling its principles among the positive enactments of the system". As writing in the Legacy of Islam, David De Santillana (1931, p. 284-310) said: "The Prophet uttered some charming words with regard to neighborly relations: "Be kind to your neighbour. Draw the veil over him. Avoid injury. Look upon him with an eye of kindness, if you see him doing evil forgive him. If you see him doing good to you, proclaim your thankfulness". Muhammad (PBUH) led an exemplary life. Even before he was assigned his mission, he spent his time in meditation, devotion, contemplation, fasting, and services to his fellow beings. His virtuous life earned for his the title of "Amin" (Trustworthy). Later the Revelation commanded him to preach the faith to the people. He taught them the unity of God and the four obligatory duties enjoined by Islam - namely Prayer, Zakat, Fasting and Haj (Annaul Pilgrimage to Mak'ah). He himself practiced what he preached and set an example for others. He stood sometimes so long in prayers during the night that his feet got swollen. He spent the whole night in prayers and meditation. He never prayed for himself but was always worried about the entire creation. Finally, Muhammad's (PBUH) exemplary life covering all spheres of human activities continues to inspire and guide human beings of the entire world. As "it is impossible", said Mrs. Annie Besant (1903), "for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet (PBUH) of Arabia who knows how he taught and how he lived to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to you, yet I re-read them as a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for the mighty Arabian leader". References: Quran, Surah39: Az-Zumar, Verse: 3 Quran, Surah96: Al-Alaq, Verse: 1-5 David De Santillana, 1931, Legacy of Islam, ed. Thomas Arnold and Alfred Guillaume, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 284-310 Annie Besant, 1903. The Life and Teachings of Muhammad, Two lectures, published in June, 1932 by The Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Chennai [Madras], 600 020, India Read More