NOBLE PROPHET'S GLORIOUS MISSION:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom They find mentioned In their own (scriptures),- In the Torah and the Gospel;- for He commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; He allows them As lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe In him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is They who will prosper." (The Holy Qur'an: 7: 157)
Showing posts with label Role Model. Show all posts
If Muhammad were to live in Europe; Establish a Strategy
Sunday, June 13, 2010
By Ahmad Saad
I've been thinking lately: What if Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was alive today and he happened to live here in Europe?
Many questions follow this idea: Would he be acting like some Muslims and isolating himself from the society? Would he be insisting on a certain type of dress and declaring it to be a sunnah or would he adapt to the society and culture in which he lives? Would his existence in Europe help in changing the bad image of Islam portrayed by the media?
Would his being here help in introducing Islam to non-Muslims more practically and effectively?
A Missing Ingredient
I believe in my heart that if Muhammad (peace be upon him) was alive in Europe today, things would have been totally different. It does not take long to guess why: He was a strategic thinker.
The lack of such strategic thinking and planning is one of the main challenges facing Muslims in Europe nowadays.
It is not surprising to meet someone in the UK believes that Muslims are aggressive people who worship a strange god.
A close study of the biography of the Prophet shows the detailed and intricate plan and divinely guided scheme he followed and that contributed to the success of his mission. Strategic planning is one of the aspects of the character of the Prophet that is still unknown to many Muslims.
Here in the West, the outcry of Muslims is that, despite their long presence in Europe, they are still struggling to establish their existence and make themselves heard and accepted. Compared to other groups who might have a shorter history of existence in Europe, Muslims are way behind in terms of integration and acceptance within the societies in which they live.
It is not surprising to meet someone in the UK, for instance, who believes that Muslims are aggressive people who worship a strange god, called Allah, who commands them to slay non-Muslims wherever they find them.
Although Muslims have been in the UK for more than a century, there is a lack of strategic planning keeps them distanced from achieving an ideal existence and engagement with British society.
In the current Muslim landscape, many mosques still "exist" in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh although they are actually on Britain soil.
Another example is some Muslims living in Europe who, driven by sincerity and a love for Islam, inadvertently make things difficult for people who want to become Muslim.
They start explaining details of every move this newcomer to Islam should make and formulating a package of confusing rulings that may baffle even a practicing Muslim, all in the name of welcoming them to Islam.
If a woman is willing to embrace Islam, some people may start speaking about hijab, or sometimes even the face veil before she completes her first hour as a Muslim.
Needless to say, there can only be a negative conclusion to this situation.
I believe if Prophet Muhammad was alive and saw these situations, he would have told these over-eager Muslims: "Take it easy, brothers and sisters! Start with one important step like the one I took with the people of Makkah. Kindle the flame of faith in the hearts and let the light grow on its own."
First Things First: The Prophet's Way
For thirteen years, the Prophet's chief undertaking was to clarify the main purpose of his mission: to let people know that there is only One God worthy of worship.
The fashion industry that arouses the desires of the flesh is an "idol" that needs to be faced today.
For Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the 360 idols that surrounded the Ka`bah represented a real challenge that had to be addressed with a short-term plan. By the same token, present day European Muslims have many challenges that need a series of short-term plans all within a framework of a single long-tem plan.
Before Muslims ask for respect and cooperation from others, they need to address the idol of internal strife and division within Muslim communities and Islamic organizations. They need to unify the internal front before they speak to anyone outside Muslim circles.
On another level, they need to set an example of trust between Muslim and non-Muslim organizations so as to be accepted by the society at large.
The Prophet emerged in an environment of idol worshippers who dedicated their lives to a number of idols that could yield no benefit or effect any harm.
We can find similar "idols" here in the West. These include the media that twists truths in order to create a story, and a fashion industry that arouses the desires of the flesh by overexposing the human body. Another idol is the spirit of consumerism that is created by the advertisements bombarding us daily.
In facing such challenges, Muslims have to set up a strategic plan and make their first goal very clear. Doing everything at the same time will get Muslims nowhere. They need to move steadily and address each idol on its own.
Prophet Muhammad placed the need to eradicate idolatry from people's hearts as the first action-item in his plan. For a task like this to be achieved, he had to be very logical and convincing in his methodology. That is why we can find many verses expounding God's power of creation and His signs that are scattered everywhere in the universe; all were revealed during the time of the aforementioned challenge.
This stage continued for almost more than half of the 23 years of the mission of Prophet Muhammad.
Strategy Based on Context
The call which the Prophet repeated for this period was very clear and simple: "Worship one God and realize the fact that these idols cannot harm or benefit you at all."
It is sad when Muslim men manipulate non-Muslim women in order to acquire citizenship.
That was the main strategic goal for the Prophet in Makkah when he was living in one relatively homogeneous community, and he and his Companions were – while belonging to this community - ostracized and oppressed.
When this period was over and Muslims migrated to Madinah, the whole environment was different.
In the new society, they found themselves dealing with Jews as well as idol-worshiping Arabs. Being a powerful and important component of the society, the Prophet led Muslims to achieve a new strategic plan that can be summarized as follows:
1. Establish a strong Muslim presence that cannot be uprooted by introducing Islam to the local community and opening the door for them to understand it and maybe even embrace it. Muslims should work hard on cooperating with local authorities in causes of common good, establish community fairs about Islam, help in combating crime and fighting extremism in the society, give lectures and talks, and participate in peace weeks and interfaith activities.
2. Integrate in the new society and show integrity as well through participation in public life and engaging with other communities. This happened when the Prophet wrote a treaty of mutual defense with the Jews and all other non-Muslim tribes that lived in Madinah. This necessitates that Muslims participate in choosing the country's decision makers by voting. They should also lobby and create coalitions with other components in the society.
3. Be an example to others by sticking to the real teachings of Islam and adopt norms of the society that do not violate Islamic teachings. In other words, practice what you preach. It is sad when Muslims, through their behavior, acquire a reputation for not being punctual, for example. Even worse is when Muslim men manipulate non-Muslim women in order to acquire citizenship.
By seeing what the Prophet accomplished in Madinah, Muslims should realize that he was working on the cohesiveness of the society and the cooperation between its components through engaging all communities in activities and projects that would be beneficial to all.
The Prophet's plan was to introduce a better example of active and conscientious citizens who would at least make people view Islam favorably. To a great extent the Prophet managed to achieve this goal and the existence of Muslims in Madinah was a valuable addition to the society.
If Muhammad was alive amongst Muslims in Europe today, I believe they would have done far better in terms of integration and engagement. However, Muslims should not cry over spilled milk because it is never too late. Muslims can still have a strategic plan and start implementing it immediately. All it needs is a deeper look into that dimension of the Prophet's character
Courtesy: http://www.rasoulallah.net/v2/document.aspx?lang=en&doc=6018
I've been thinking lately: What if Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was alive today and he happened to live here in Europe?
Many questions follow this idea: Would he be acting like some Muslims and isolating himself from the society? Would he be insisting on a certain type of dress and declaring it to be a sunnah or would he adapt to the society and culture in which he lives? Would his existence in Europe help in changing the bad image of Islam portrayed by the media?
Would his being here help in introducing Islam to non-Muslims more practically and effectively?
A Missing Ingredient
I believe in my heart that if Muhammad (peace be upon him) was alive in Europe today, things would have been totally different. It does not take long to guess why: He was a strategic thinker.
The lack of such strategic thinking and planning is one of the main challenges facing Muslims in Europe nowadays.
It is not surprising to meet someone in the UK believes that Muslims are aggressive people who worship a strange god.
A close study of the biography of the Prophet shows the detailed and intricate plan and divinely guided scheme he followed and that contributed to the success of his mission. Strategic planning is one of the aspects of the character of the Prophet that is still unknown to many Muslims.
Here in the West, the outcry of Muslims is that, despite their long presence in Europe, they are still struggling to establish their existence and make themselves heard and accepted. Compared to other groups who might have a shorter history of existence in Europe, Muslims are way behind in terms of integration and acceptance within the societies in which they live.
It is not surprising to meet someone in the UK, for instance, who believes that Muslims are aggressive people who worship a strange god, called Allah, who commands them to slay non-Muslims wherever they find them.
Although Muslims have been in the UK for more than a century, there is a lack of strategic planning keeps them distanced from achieving an ideal existence and engagement with British society.
In the current Muslim landscape, many mosques still "exist" in India, Pakistan or Bangladesh although they are actually on Britain soil.
Another example is some Muslims living in Europe who, driven by sincerity and a love for Islam, inadvertently make things difficult for people who want to become Muslim.
They start explaining details of every move this newcomer to Islam should make and formulating a package of confusing rulings that may baffle even a practicing Muslim, all in the name of welcoming them to Islam.
If a woman is willing to embrace Islam, some people may start speaking about hijab, or sometimes even the face veil before she completes her first hour as a Muslim.
Needless to say, there can only be a negative conclusion to this situation.
I believe if Prophet Muhammad was alive and saw these situations, he would have told these over-eager Muslims: "Take it easy, brothers and sisters! Start with one important step like the one I took with the people of Makkah. Kindle the flame of faith in the hearts and let the light grow on its own."
First Things First: The Prophet's Way
For thirteen years, the Prophet's chief undertaking was to clarify the main purpose of his mission: to let people know that there is only One God worthy of worship.
The fashion industry that arouses the desires of the flesh is an "idol" that needs to be faced today.
For Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the 360 idols that surrounded the Ka`bah represented a real challenge that had to be addressed with a short-term plan. By the same token, present day European Muslims have many challenges that need a series of short-term plans all within a framework of a single long-tem plan.
Before Muslims ask for respect and cooperation from others, they need to address the idol of internal strife and division within Muslim communities and Islamic organizations. They need to unify the internal front before they speak to anyone outside Muslim circles.
On another level, they need to set an example of trust between Muslim and non-Muslim organizations so as to be accepted by the society at large.
The Prophet emerged in an environment of idol worshippers who dedicated their lives to a number of idols that could yield no benefit or effect any harm.
We can find similar "idols" here in the West. These include the media that twists truths in order to create a story, and a fashion industry that arouses the desires of the flesh by overexposing the human body. Another idol is the spirit of consumerism that is created by the advertisements bombarding us daily.
In facing such challenges, Muslims have to set up a strategic plan and make their first goal very clear. Doing everything at the same time will get Muslims nowhere. They need to move steadily and address each idol on its own.
Prophet Muhammad placed the need to eradicate idolatry from people's hearts as the first action-item in his plan. For a task like this to be achieved, he had to be very logical and convincing in his methodology. That is why we can find many verses expounding God's power of creation and His signs that are scattered everywhere in the universe; all were revealed during the time of the aforementioned challenge.
This stage continued for almost more than half of the 23 years of the mission of Prophet Muhammad.
Strategy Based on Context
The call which the Prophet repeated for this period was very clear and simple: "Worship one God and realize the fact that these idols cannot harm or benefit you at all."
It is sad when Muslim men manipulate non-Muslim women in order to acquire citizenship.
That was the main strategic goal for the Prophet in Makkah when he was living in one relatively homogeneous community, and he and his Companions were – while belonging to this community - ostracized and oppressed.
When this period was over and Muslims migrated to Madinah, the whole environment was different.
In the new society, they found themselves dealing with Jews as well as idol-worshiping Arabs. Being a powerful and important component of the society, the Prophet led Muslims to achieve a new strategic plan that can be summarized as follows:
1. Establish a strong Muslim presence that cannot be uprooted by introducing Islam to the local community and opening the door for them to understand it and maybe even embrace it. Muslims should work hard on cooperating with local authorities in causes of common good, establish community fairs about Islam, help in combating crime and fighting extremism in the society, give lectures and talks, and participate in peace weeks and interfaith activities.
2. Integrate in the new society and show integrity as well through participation in public life and engaging with other communities. This happened when the Prophet wrote a treaty of mutual defense with the Jews and all other non-Muslim tribes that lived in Madinah. This necessitates that Muslims participate in choosing the country's decision makers by voting. They should also lobby and create coalitions with other components in the society.
3. Be an example to others by sticking to the real teachings of Islam and adopt norms of the society that do not violate Islamic teachings. In other words, practice what you preach. It is sad when Muslims, through their behavior, acquire a reputation for not being punctual, for example. Even worse is when Muslim men manipulate non-Muslim women in order to acquire citizenship.
By seeing what the Prophet accomplished in Madinah, Muslims should realize that he was working on the cohesiveness of the society and the cooperation between its components through engaging all communities in activities and projects that would be beneficial to all.
The Prophet's plan was to introduce a better example of active and conscientious citizens who would at least make people view Islam favorably. To a great extent the Prophet managed to achieve this goal and the existence of Muslims in Madinah was a valuable addition to the society.
If Muhammad was alive amongst Muslims in Europe today, I believe they would have done far better in terms of integration and engagement. However, Muslims should not cry over spilled milk because it is never too late. Muslims can still have a strategic plan and start implementing it immediately. All it needs is a deeper look into that dimension of the Prophet's character
Courtesy: http://www.rasoulallah.net/v2/document.aspx?lang=en&doc=6018
NOT JUST A MUSLIM ROLE MODEL!
Thursday, April 08, 2010By Dr. M. Yunus
Role models are essentials for the development of individual and national character. However, being a role model for a family or nation is one thing, for the entire mankind another. The latter kind of role model is not easy to find.
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was one such role model who transcended the boundaries of space and time.
As there is a prerequisite for everything, so it is for the universal role model. Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) as a role model of the entire mankind saw to it that his message was for all people, about all issues, for all times, and one that he practiced himself before preaching.
When we search in recent human history for such a role model who can fulfill all the above criteria, we can say without fear of contradiction that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the only such role model.
GUIDANCE FOR ALL MANKIND:
A study of Prophet Muhammad's Seerah (life history) clearly manifests that he was not an Arab nationalist leader. He had love, mercy, and concern for all mankind regardless of their ethnicity, national origin, language or tribe. He looked at blacks, whites, Arabs, non-Arabs, people from the east or the west as members of one human family. He never spoke one word or sentence throughout his life to indicate that he was more interested in the welfare of a certain group or people. For that reason, he had Africans, Persians, Romans, Egyptians, and Israelites amongst his prominent companions besides Arabs. After his death, he has been accepted as a leader and role model by people in all corners of the world. As a matter of fact, Arabs today are only a minority in the Muslim world.
Today, the Prophet's followers inhabit the globe from China , Japan , and Russia to Europe, America and Australia
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) did not waste his time in addressing only certain problems of certain nations. He used all his energy to first address the fundamental issues of all mankind. In his message he emphasized that the root cause of all human ills and problems is man's rebellion against Allah's sovereignty. As a result of his rebellion one adopts one of the following two attitudes:
a. He considers himself independently sovereign and transgresses upon the rights of Allah and other people.
b. He submits to false gods and deities and as a result creates disruption on earth.
The real king of this universe is Almighty Allah. The only right behaviour for man is to submit to the sovereignty of Allah. He must sincerely obey Allah's commandments in his individual and family life and build a universal society of believers. Hence, he must establish Allah's kingdom on his earth and serve as a vicegerent of Allah implementing His law.
This law and code of life has been passed on to mankind in the form of Qur'an. The Qur'an is the most comprehensive book ever and addresses all issues concerning mankind. It has a solution for all ills man has suffered in the past or in the present time.
The Qur'an's message and the Prophet Muhammad's role model are as true and useful today as they were 1400 years ago. This is an established fact that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) did not just present a written guidance. He presented a living example of his guidance in his life and then established a society and state in accordance with that guidance. He brought thousands of people from the paths of polytheism to the submission to one Allah. Then he gathered them under his dynamic leadership in the Islamic Jama'ah. This Jama'ah (or Party) then struggled to establish a true Islamic society, which exemplified the best moral system, best civilization, and the most exemplary political system.
NOTE: This article was taken more than 15 years ago from some issue of ‘The Message International’ published by ICNA. This article is typed by Sr. Nadia Arif and I thank her for the help. Jazakallah.
Muhammad: Fatherhood Redefined
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
By Dr. Mostafa Al Khateeb
Some people wonder why Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) deserved to be the final Messenger and Prophet of Allah. The simple answer that comes to a Muslim's mind is that he (peace and blessings be upon him) was an exemplar in all aspects of life. This means that anyone can find the practical model for a perfect human in him. Almighty Allah says about Muhammad,
Some people wonder why Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) deserved to be the final Messenger and Prophet of Allah. The simple answer that comes to a Muslim's mind is that he (peace and blessings be upon him) was an exemplar in all aspects of life. This means that anyone can find the practical model for a perfect human in him. Almighty Allah says about Muhammad,
(Verily in the messenger of Allah you have a good example for him who looks unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.) (Al-Ahzab 33:21)
Prophet Muhammad set good examples in all aspects of life: he was an ideal husband, father, grandfather, leader, etc.
Being a perfect and a model father, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) dealt with his kids with deep love, kindness, compassion, and justice.
Let's try to live some warm moments in the Prophet's household, to follow his steps in bringing up our children in a perfect manner.
Good Choice of the Mother
The first act a good father should do is to choose a good mother for his kids Indeed, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had a distinguished choice of his wives. Khadijah bint Khuwailed, his first wife, who was the mother of almost all his children, was a woman of noble descent and manners. She was brought up well. Their marriage was based on respect, honesty, sincerity, morals, and love.
It is worth mentioning that the Prophet did not get married to another woman while Khadijah was alive. Mother of the believers, `A'ishah commented on the Prophet's faithfulness to his late wife saying, "I never felt so jealous of any wife of Allah's Messenger as I did of Khadijah because Allah's Messenger used to remember and praise her frequently, and because it was revealed to Allah's Messenger that he should give her (Khadijah) the glad tidings of her having a palace of Qasab (canes stud with jewels) in Paradise." (Al-Bukhari)
This was his behavior toward her after her death. Then, it is not difficult to imagine the atmosphere where their children lived while she was alive.
Deep Love and Care
In spite of the heavy and painstaking tasks the Prophet shouldered, he did not forget to express his deep and sincere love toward his children. Anas ibn Malik, the Prophet's servant (may Allah be pleased with him), talked about the Prophet saying:
"His son Ibrahim was in the care of a wet nurse in the hills around Madinah. He (the Prophet) would go there, and we would go with him, and he would enter the house, pick up his son and kiss him, then come back." (Muslim)
Another example of these sincere emotions is crystal clear in a hadith in which Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet,
".. came back to th e tent of Fatimah – his daughter - and said ,"Is the little chap (meaning Al-Hasan – his grandson) there?" We were under the impression that his mother had detained him in order to bathe and dress him and adorn him with sweet garland. Not much time had passed that he (Al-Hasan) came running until both of them embraced each other, thereupon Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said,”O Allah , I love him; so please love him and love those who love him.”(Muslim)
The Prophet's care for his children was not limited to them as children but as adults and married ones. This was clearly shown when `Ali ibn Abi Talib – the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law- wanted to marry a woman whose father was an enemy of Islam. Al-Miswar ibn Makhramah said,
"I heard Allah's Messenger who was on the pulpit, saying, "Banu Hisham ibn Al-Mughirah have requested me to allow them to marry their daughter to Ali ibn Abi Talib, but I don't give permission, and will not give permission unless ' Ali ibn Abi Talib divorces my daughter in order to marry their daughter, because Fatimah is a part of my body, and I hate what she hates to see, and what hurts her, hurts me." (Al-Bukhari)
Although polygamy is allowed in Islam, the considerate father refused to let his daughter Fatimah be hurt or get saddened. Moreover, this stance of the Prophet was because Fatimah's mother and sisters died one after another, so if her husband married another woman, she would partially lose someone who was giving comfort to her.
In another eye-catching scene we know that when Fatimah came to her father, he would stand, take her hands, and make her sit where he was sitting. He used to speak with her showing a fountain of fatherly love. Prophet Muhammad used to call her Umm Abbiha(mother of her father) and Bint Abbiha (daughter of her father).
Overwhelming Kindness, Mercy, and Compassion
Kindness and mercy were among other fatherly traits of Allah's Messenger. The Prophet's life is full of incidents that show his extreme kindness and mercy toward his children.
One day Allah ’s Messenger kissed Al-Hasan ibn `Ali while Al-Aqra` ibn Habis At-Tamimi was sitting with him. Al-Aqra` said, "have ten children and have never kissed one of them. The Prophet looked at him and said, “Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully.” (Al-Bukhari)
Prophet Muhammad, the ideal father, urged parents to be kind to their children. Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger said, "The righteous among the women of Quraish are those who are kind to their young ones and who look after their husband's property." (Al-Bukhari) This saying leads parents to compete in being kind to their little ones. This "catalytic" method of conveying the message, is so effective indeed.
`Aishah, (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) got some ornaments presented by Negus as a gift to him. They contained a gold ring with an Abyssinian stone. The Messenger of Allah, turning his attention from it, took it by means of a stick or his finger, then called Umamah, daughter of his daughter Zainab, and said: "Wear it, my dear daughter." (Abu Dawud)
Usamah ibn Zaid narrated that Allah’s Messenger used to put him on (one of) his thighs and put Al-Hasan ibn `Ali on his other thigh, and then embrace them and say,”O Allah! Please be merciful to them, as I am merciful to them.” (Al-Bukhari)
Anas ibn Malik reported that while Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet was giving his last breathe, the Prophet shed tears and said, ”The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves, and we will not say except w hat pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim! Indeed we are grieved by your separation.” (Al-Bukhari)
Al-Bahiyy reported another indicative situation reflecting how kind and merciful toward his children the Prophet was. Al-Bahiyy said "When Ibrahim, the son of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) died, Allah's Messenger prayed over him at the place where he used to sit." (Abu Dawud)
Likewise, Anas ibn Malik assured the Prophet's uniquecompassion toward his children, saying, "I never saw anyone who was more compassionate toward children than Allah’s Messenger" .(Muslim)
Zainab died in the eighth year after Hijrah leaving her little daughter Umamah whom the Prophet used to dandle remembering her mother and solacing the little one. Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari and some Companions were sitting in the mosque. He reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) came upon us carrying Umamah daughter of Abul 'As ibn ar-Rabi'. Her mother was Zainab daughter of the Messenger of Allah. She (Umamah) was a child and he (the Prophet) was carrying her on his shoulder. The Messenger of Allah led (the people) in Prayer while she was on his shoulder. When he bowed he put her down and took her up when he got up. He kept doing so until he finished his prayer. (Abu Dawud)
The Prophet balanced the refined and noble traits above mentioned with other ones required for education, so that his children would not be spoiled. What the latter traits were, and what the practical tips to be a great father following the Prophet as an exemplar are; will be tackled soon in part two in sha’ Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (Sal-lal-lahu-alaihi-wa-sallam) The BEST EXAMPLE for Youth Today!
Thursday, March 18, 2010By Idris Tawfiq
[Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets, and Allah has full knowledge of all things.] Al-Ahzab 33:40
But let's take a look at the final Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and see the stark difference between what is now and what was before.
"Which one is Muhammad?" So humble was the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that strangers looking for him in the mosque in Madinah had to ask this. Sitting in the row of believers for the daily prayers, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), with his simple and modest bearing, could not be distinguished from anyone else.
He was so calm, so dignified, and so peaceful that no one could single him out as the leader. Children and youth could approach him to receive a warm greeting or to ask this great, yet humble, man a question or some advice. In quiet prayer he looked like any other simple man. There was no sign here of the great warrior, the skillful negotiator in times of war and peace, the statesman. There was no sign either that this was the man, from among all men, was chosen to receive the Creator's final message to mankind.
In the mosque his focus was on Allah alone. He was like every Muslim who enters the mosque to pray. And yet, unlike any other Muslim, he had been chosen as the Seal of the Prophets, the most honorable and the noblest of men. He was the one whom Allah selected to guide all mankind.
Disadvantages in Youth
Orphaned by the age of 6 and born in a relatively unimportant region of the world to a simple family, Muhammad could neither read nor write. When commanded by the Angel Jibreel to recite the first glorious verses of the Qur'an, Muhammad could only respond that he was unable to read or recite them.
Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) had neither power nor wealth. He possessed none of the things that the world considers important. Yet Allah chose him from all men in the world to be what the Qur'an calls "a mercy to mankind."
A Mercy
This is the role that young Muslims should take on in this world that is so full of turmoil and hate. The youth are the standard-bearers of the message of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and it is a message of mercy.
In his person, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was a mercy to all the people on earth. One so kind, so pious, so devout in prayer and obedience to the will of Allah had been chosen as the guide for mankind.
We should ask ourselves, how closely are we living our lives according to the message of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him)? If we are living in his way, no problem will be too great to overcome, our future will appear clear before us, and the challenges of young adulthood will seem small. If young Muslims join in the ranks of the followers of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), they will be joining the ranks of the merciful, pious, and just people through all the ages, from the beginning of time. Indeed, Allah opens the way for those who sincerely obey Him and His Messenger.
Your Friends
Good people should surround themselves with good friends. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was surrounded by people who sought the pleasure of Allah. Ask yourself: Who do you mix with and why? Your friends reflect who you are.
At the end of his life, when Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was laid to rest in the earth, his funeral was attended by his heartbroken friends and Companions. They had been with him for so long, many since the time of the first revelation of the Qur'an some 23 years before, and now they were to be left alone, without a guide for the first time in so many years.
Imagine yourself living at the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him); imagine walking in his blessed footsteps. If you follow his Sunnah, you are walking in his footsteps today.
His body was not laid to rest in some grand tomb as one might expect for so important and so influential a man. Rather it was placed in the earth beneath the spot where he used to sleep on a simple mat. It fell upon Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him), his friend from before the time of the first revelation, to deliver the funeral sermon. Abu Bakr had to try to make sense out of this tragedy for the crowds assembled before him. At this key moment in the development of Islam, they eagerly awaited what Abu Bakr, the closest friend of the Prophet, would have to say. His words to them were filled with wisdom.
"O men," he said, "if anyone worships Muhammad, let him know that Muhammad is dead. But if anyone worships Allah, then know that Allah is alive and will never die."
Only Human
Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with him) told the Muslim faithful that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the greatest man to have lived but he was not the Lord of all creation. He was a man like all men. And this is what makes Islam so extraordinary. There are now nearly two billion Muslims in the world, and we are attentive to what our beloved Prophet said or did. Each one of us proclaims at least five times a day that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. It is the core of our faith. In the same breath in which we declare belief in the One true Lord of mankind and all that exists, we declare belief in His Messenger.
The love and reverence which we have for Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is both real and deep. We see him as the gentlest, the kindest, and the sweetest of men, and yet he remains for us precisely that: a man. Neither a god nor a saint. We do not ascribe to our Prophet magical powers. It would be a blasphemy for us to do so. We see him as a simple man, chosen from among men, with the same cares and worries we might have.
But in Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) we see that it is possible for us to dedicate all our lives to Allah and to live under His guidance, yet live in the midst of life. Not divine, but human like us, Prophet Muhammad showed us by his life and example that Islam is the perfect way of life and that it is possible to achieve happiness by following this way.
If you find your life is taking you in another direction, stop and think. Don't make decisions in your youth that will take you on a different path that heads away from that of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Something Special
In Islam there are no priests or popes. That, perhaps, is the secret of Islam. There is no special knowledge reserved for a professional religious class. There are no go-betweens between the Creator and the created.
Islam is ours for the taking. How many of us reach out and take what Islam has to offer? How many of us are shining examples of mercy and justice that Islam can develop in us?
Each of us can fall prostrate before our Maker and say what we need to say without the help of anyone else. Just you and your creator! We can see this clearly inside any mosque. Muslim men and women, each in their own place, gather in the mosque for the five daily prayers. They pray together as a community, in congregation, receiving blessings for doing so, yet it is obvious to anyone who looks on that each Muslim is concerned with speaking to his or her Lord individually. It is perhaps this, more than anything else, that makes the place of Prophet Muhammad so strong in the heart of every Muslim.
Muhammad was a man and he found it possible, with Allah's help, to live out every requirement of Islam. So you and I, then, can try to do the same and, with Allah's help, we can live out our faith like our beloved Prophet.
Courtesy: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&pagename=Zone-English-Youth/YTELayout&cid=1162385855954
Prophet Muhammad (Sal-lal-lahu-alaihi-wa-sallam) - The Leader
Thursday, March 18, 2010
By Fethullah Gulen
Prophet Muhammad (Sal-lal-lahu-alaihi-wa-sallam) had all the necessary qualities for success in every aspect of life. But, more importantly, he was able to lead his community to success in every field. He is the source from which flowed all later developments related to command, statecraft, religion, spiritual development, and so on in the Muslim world.
In general, leaders should have the following qualities:
(Al-Hakim).
When his Companions complained about the harsh conditions and persecution in Makkah, he answered,"By Allah, Allah will bring this matter (the establishment of Islam) to its consummation till a rider will travel from San`a' (in Yemen) to Hadramaut fearing none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty"(Al-Bukhari).
Courtesy:http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658461216&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah/LSELayout
Prophet Muhammad (Sal-lal-lahu-alaihi-wa-sallam) had all the necessary qualities for success in every aspect of life. But, more importantly, he was able to lead his community to success in every field. He is the source from which flowed all later developments related to command, statecraft, religion, spiritual development, and so on in the Muslim world.
In general, leaders should have the following qualities:
- Realism.They should understand prevailing conditions as they actually are and be aware of any advantages and disadvantages.
- Absolute belief in their message.Their conviction should never falter, and they should never renounce their mission.
- Personal courage.Even if left alone, they should have enough courage to persevere. When some of his pursuers reached the mouth of the cave in which they were hiding, Abu Bakr was afraid something would happen to the Messenger. However, the Prophet only said, "Grieve not, for God is with us" (At-Tawbah 9:40).
- Strong willpower and resolve.They should never experience even one moment of hopelessness.
- Awareness of personal responsibility.Everything should be directed toward fulfilling this responsibility. In no way should they be seduced by the world's charms and life's attractions.
- Far-sighted and goal-centered.Leaders should be able to discern and plan for potential developments. They should know how to evaluate the past, present, and future to reach a new synthesis. Those who frequently change their opinions only spread chaos in the community.
- Personal knowledge of each follower.Leaders should be fully aware of each follower's disposition, character, abilities, shortcomings, ambitions, and weak points. If they lack this knowledge, how can they fill vacant posts with the appropriate people?
- Strong character and praiseworthy virtues.Leaders should be determined but flexible while carrying out decisions, and know when to be unyielding and implacable or relenting and compassionate. They should know when to be earnest and dignified, when to be modest, and they should always be upright, truthful, trustworthy, and just.
- No worldly ambitions or abuse of authority.Leaders should live like the poorest members of their community. They should never discriminate among their subjects; rather, they should strive to love them, prefer them over themselves, and act so that their people will love them sincerely. They should be faithful to their community, and secure their community's loyalty and devotion in return.
(Al-Hakim).
When his Companions complained about the harsh conditions and persecution in Makkah, he answered,"By Allah, Allah will bring this matter (the establishment of Islam) to its consummation till a rider will travel from San`a' (in Yemen) to Hadramaut fearing none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty"(Al-Bukhari).
Courtesy:http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1158658461216&pagename=Zone-English-Living_Shariah/LSELayout
Prophets: Perfect Model for Humanity
Wednesday, March 17, 2010By Allama Syed Sulaiman Nadwi
History has preserved the life-stories of men, thousands in number, who had achieved eminence in one field or the other. All of them have left their imprints on the pages of history. There are amongst them emperors surrounded by the splendor of royal courts, an array of military commanders and generals, philosophers lost in their thoughts, mighty conquerors intoxicated with power, poets singing to cheer their own solitude with sweet songs and the affluent rolling in riches.
All of them have attraction of their own for the sons of Adam. Whether it be Hannibal of Carthage, or Alexander of Macedonia, or Caesar of Rome, or Darius of Iran, or yet Napoleon of France, the life of each has a fascination for the posterity. Similarly alluring are the lives of all philosophers from Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and Diogenes of the ancients to Spencer of England. Even the lives of Nimrod and Pharaoh, Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab and Korah depict yet another trait of human nature and character; but the question is, who amongst these, can be deemed as a model of goodness and virtue fit to be followed by other human beings? Great generals and conquerors, indeed were they, who swept everything before them by their sword, but did they also succeed in leaving an ennobling example of their lives to be followed by others? They had won brilliant victories, but were they able to cut the shackles of superstition and credulous beliefs? Did they solve any social problem besetting equality and brotherhood of human beings? Did they succeed in restoring our moral and spiritual health and happiness or in eradicating the faults and failings of our desires? Did they present any model of moral rectitude and decorous behavior for the posterity?
World has given birth to great poets. But, these were painters of fantasy, merely starry-eyed utopians unfit to be assigned any place in the Republic of Plato.
There have been sages and philosophers who have plumbed the secrets of nature beyond the limits of perception and changed the concept of things and materials. They have, nevertheless, failed to produce any blueprint for the practical guidance of humanity. For their flight of imagination lacked practical wisdom, they could never provide man with any guidance in the discharge of his obligations. Aristotle was the precursor of ethical philosophy now studied in every university. His brilliant exposition of ethical impulsions is esteemed highly both by the learned and the learners, but how many of them have been able to betake the path of virtue by reading his dissertations? Teachers well-versed in ethical philosophy can be found almost in every institution of higher learning, who know all about its premises and principles, but has their impact been ever felt beyond their class-rooms? On the contrary, we find that very often their conduct and behavior are no better than those of the man on the street. To walk in the right path one has not to hear the sermons but to see the living examples of cardinal virtues.
Powerful kings and emperors have also appeared on the stage of this world. They have extended their dominions, played with the life and property of their fellow beings, extracted wealth through taxes and tithes from some and bestowed their bounties on others. They have demeaned on to exalt the other. The Book of God presents, in the words of the Queen of Sheba, this rare picture of their doings on the earth:
"Lo! kings, when they enter a township, ruin it and make the honor of its people shame." (Quran, 27:34)
The swords of mighty kings have hanged over the heads of criminals in thoroughfares and market places, but they have failed to reach the guilt concealed in the minds and hearts of men. They have enforced law and order in the habitations and townships, but the kingdom of spirit has ever been beyond their reach, or, rather, their own courts and castles have been the breeding dens of moral confusion and spiritual anarchy. What else have the kings like Alexanders and Caesars left for us? How many lawgivers has the world seen from Solon to this day? Their laws were not only short-lived but also failed to cleanse the hearts and purify the morals. Subsequent rulers always placed a new set of laws on the statute book, albeit more often to further their own interests than to enforce the rules of equity. The world has not changed even today. Still, the legislatures in every country make and unmake laws endlessly, but seldom their labors are for the benefit of the people whom they profess to represent. It is more the interest of the powers that be which they seek to promote.
| The prophets adorn and illuminate the soul of man: the zealous preachings of Noah, the unshakable principle of God's oneness upheld by Abraham, the patrimony of resignation to Divine will bequeathed by Isaac, the self-sacrifice of Ishmael, the indefatigable efforts of Moses, the faithfulness of Aaron, the self-resignation of Jacob, the lamentations of David, the wisdom of Solomon, the litanies of Zachariah, the chastity of John, the piety of Jesus, the penitence of Jonah, the strenuous exertion of Lot and the endurance of Job have made the life of man winsome and bright |
"There is not a nation but a warner hath passed among them." (Quran, 35:24)
"For every folk a guide." (Quran, 13:7)
The lustre of their teachings is to be found today in every country and nation; savages and the civilized people of the world are both equally indebted to them for edification of their souls. Of all the groups of men we have mentioned afore, the most august are they, for they rule not over the bodies of men like the kings, but their authority is enshrined in the hearts of the people. Their kingdom is not of lands and countries, but of hearts and spirits: they do now wield the sword, yet they obliterate the stains of guilt and iniquity at one stroke; they are not dreamy-eyed songsmiths, yet the sweetness of their speech delights the soul; they are neither senators nor law-makers, yet the laws given by them regulate the conduct of statesmen and judges, kings and subjects from age to age. This is not a question of faith or conviction but a matter of fact and history. One has to see whether it has actually been so or not. The edicts of Patliputra's Ashoka are engraved on the pillars of stones, but those of the Buddha are inscribed in the hearts of people. The decrees of the rulers of Ujjain, Hastinapur, Delhi and Kannauj are no more to be found today, but the Dharma Shastra of Manu still prevails. The statutes of Hamurabbi, the King of Babel, have long been buried under the dust, but Abraham's teachings are still alive! Pharaoh's imprudent demand to pay divine honors to him was a transient as the clouds, but Moses still lives in his teachings. How long did the laws of Solon remain in force, but the laws of Torah are still the measure of justice! The Roman Law which persecuted Jesus Christ became extinct long ago, but the doctrines of love that flowed from the lips of Jesus still redeem the wrongdoers and wash them of their sins. The Abu Jahls of Mecca, the Chosroes of Iran and the Caesars of Rome are all dead and gone, but the Lord of Madina still rules over the hearts of people in every part of the world.
If these facts are correct, one would have to concede, not on grounds of faith, but through reason and logic of stubborn facts, that no other class of people except the prophets has worked for the welfare and happiness of mankind in its truest sense; theirs was the endeavor consisting of virtue and goodness, purity of heart, moderation and temperance. They all came to this world as messengers of God to preach the gospel of Truth and Faith, and they left their footsteps of righteousness to be followed by the coming generations. It is from their teachings alone that the rulers and the ruled, the rich and the poor and the learned and the illiterate can derive equal benefit.
"That is Our argument. We gave it unto Abraham against the folk. We raise unto degrees of wisdom whom We will. Lo! thy Lord is Wise, Aware. And We bestowed upon him Isaac and Jacob; each of them We guided; and Noah did We guide aforetime; and of his seed (We guided) David and Solomon and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron. Thus do we reward the good. And Zachariah and John and Jesus and Elias. Each one (of them) was of the righteous. And Ishmael and Elisa and Jonah and Lot. Each one (of them) did We prefer above (Our) creatures, With some of their forefathers and their off-spring and their brethren; and We chose them and guided them unto a straight path. Such is the guidance of Allah wherewith He guideth whom he will of His bondmen. But if they had set up (for worship) aught beside Him, (all) that they did would have been vain. Those are they unto whom We gave the Scripture and command and prophethood. But if these disbelieve therein, then indeed We shall entrust it to a people who will not be disbelievers therein. Those are they whom Allah guideth, so follow their guidance." (Quran6:84-91)
These luminous verses of the Quran speak of a particular group among men, some of whom have been mentioned by name, who had been sent to cure the spiritual ailments of mankind and restore its moral health. They were men, holy and angelic in spirit, who preached the word of God in different times and climes and in every land. Whatever of moral rectitude and righteousness, purity and chastity man possesses today, it is all their legacy, and in following their footsteps alone lies the salvation and well-being of humanity. The prophets adorn and illuminate the soul of man: the zealous preachings of Noah, the unshakable principle of God's oneness upheld by Abraham, the patrimony of resignation to Divine will bequeathed by Isaac, the self-sacrifice of Ishmael, the indefatigable efforts of Moses, the faithfulness of Aaron, the self-resignation of Jacob, the lamentations of David, the wisdom of Solomon, the litanies of Zachariah, the chastity of John, the piety of Jesus, the penitence of Jonah, the strenuous exertion of Lot and the endurance of Job have made the life of man winsome and bright. To these consecrated souls can be traced every virtue and goodness found in the world today.
There is, however, no denying the fact that culture and civilization, progress and improvement, in short, everything that has contributed towards the welfare and material progress of mankind and helped man to raise himself to the level of vicegerent of God on earth, has been brought about by the combined effort of all men. Astronomers have discovered the movements of heavenly bodies, chemists have found out the properties of substances, physicians have searched the medicines for curing diseases, architects have developed the science and designs of structures and artisans have give birth to useful crafts and fine arts, and all of them have thus a share in the making of our world. We ought to be thankful to all of them. Nevertheless, we are even more obliged to offer our thanks to those who have decorated the world within us. They are the physicians who have cured us of our greed and envy, diagnosed the ailments of our souls and refurbished its lost energy and vigor. They elaborated our behavior patterns and aptitudes, ideas and intentions and showed us the way of attaining purity of heart and sublimity of spirit. It was through the efforts of these God moved souls that the cultural attainments were refined and embellished, the link between man and God, the slave and the Lord, was established. How could the world have attained its excellence if we had been denied the knowledge received through prophetic teachings? We are, verily, indebted more to these men of God than to any other class or group of person. This is the compliment due to the prophets of God and it ought to be paid by all of us whenever their name comes on the lips of anyone. And, this is the benediction taught by Islam to be offered for them: "O God! Have mercy and peace on all of them."
Excerpted from the book "Muhammed, the Ideal Prophet" by Saiyid Sulaiman Nadwi. He was a student of Allama Shibli Nu'mani whose masterpiece, Sirat-Un-Nabi, he edited and presented to the world after his teacher's death.
Courtesy:http://www.islamicity.com/articles/Articles.asp?ref=IC0702-3235
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