In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful
INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 001
MERCY OF MUHAMMAD
When the Holy Prophet Muhammad was delegated with the responsibility to disseminate the Divine Message of the Qur’an, to the people, he struggled hard to perform his duty. It was for him more than just a duty. He yearned to see each and every human being attain guidance and eternal prosperity. When he observed that the idol worshipers were adamant in their disbelief, he would experience deep anguish, such that it was nearly killing him. Thus it is that God revealed unto him:
“It may be you will kill yourself with grief, that they do not become Believers.” (Holy Qur’an, 26:3)
This was the extent of the concern of Prophet Muhammad
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 002
TREMENDOUS CHARACTER
One of the most integral conditions of Divine Apostleship according to Muslims is infallibility. Hence to attribute any kind of indecency to the character and personality of Prophet Muhammad is extremely far-fetched. Indeed God Himself in the Holy Qur’an tells mankind that Muhammad, the Prophet of God, enjoys the best morals:
And indeed you (O Muhammad) are of tremendous character! (68:4)
Anything contrary to this is alien to Islam and all the Muslims.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 003
TREMENDOUS CHARACTER
Despite having control over the affairs of the Muslims and the Islamic government, the Holy Prophet (S) never deserted himself from his untainted human disposition. He would practically reveal the best example for every human being to follow and emulate. ‘Ali, his cousin and son in law says:
“You should follow the Prophet, the pure, the chaste, may God bless him and his progeny…The Prophet used to eat on the ground, and sat like a slave. He repaired his shoes with his own hands and patched his clothes with his own hands….” [Nahj al-Balaghah, 227, speech 160]
If the superficially affluent deem simplicity as backwardness, it is imperative for them to revise the reality of the meaning of civilization. Muhammad was able to procure the best of material amenities but due to his unflinching focus on the ultimate goal of mankind, he employed the means for the end, and was never overtaken by the material amenities of this transient world.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 004
SEEKING KNOWLEDGE
Muhammad, peace be on him and his progeny, is reported to have said:
“The seeker of knowledge among the ignorant is like a living creature among the dead.” [Kanz al-‘Ummal, 28726]
This short dictum encapsulates a vital truth: knowledge is that which corresponds to reality. Therefore, whereas the seeker of knowledge, who actually is after “the truth” is living, one who surrenders to speculation, heresy and distortion is dead.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 005
THE MOST BELOVED OF GOD
Muhammad, peace be on him and his progeny, is reported to have said:
“All the creatures are the family of God, therefore the most beloved of them to God, is one who benefits His family the most.”
[Nahj al-Fasahah, p. 27]
This dictum avails us with an important vision: appreciate the people you see outside as those whom God Himself takes care of, and deal with them accordingly.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 006
A DYNAMIC PHYSICIAN
Describing Muhammad’s dynamic and concerned spirit of curing the maladies of the soul, ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib, says:
He (Muhammad) was a traveling physician who has set ready his ointments and heated his instruments. He uses them wherever the need arises for curing blind hearts, deaf ears, and dumb tongues. He went with his medicines to the places of negligence and places of perplexity...
[Nahj al-Balaghah, v.1, p.208]
This is what greatness is all about. Instead of waiting for patient to come to him, the selfless prophetic spirit of Muhammad would go to him for treatment.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 007
THE IMPORTANCE OF SHAME
Prophet Muhammad who was an epitome of what he taught, is reported to have said:
“Shame is religion in its entirety.”
[Kanz al-Ummal, 5757]
This dictum informs us how fundamentally important is the virtue of shame in Islam. It speaks volumes of the exalted character of the Holy Prophet (S) who epitomized shame and chastity in their highest levels of perfection, to qualify to be an exemplar for others to follow. Hence, to allow even one's imagination to think otherwise is to distance oneself from the true Islam and Muslims.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 008
KEEPING PROMISES
Prophet Muhammad underlining the importance of keeping promises is reported to have said:
“One who does not keep promises has no religion.”
[Nawadir of al-Rawandi, 5]
This profound prophetic statement emphasizes how important it is to keep one’s promises. It indirectly also alludes to the fact that one who claims to be religious, but does not keep his promise has no religion.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 009
DEEP CONCERN FOR THE SALVATION OF THE MISLED
Al-Qadhi in his Book al-Shifa Narrates:
On the Day of [the Battle of] Uhud when Prophet Muhammad’s two front teeth were broken and his face was wounded [due to the attack of the idolator enemies], it was very difficult for his companions to bear, and they requested him to curse the enemies.
Prophet Muhammad in response said: “I was not sent to curse frequently, but was [rather] sent as a caller and mercy.” [Then he prayed:] “O God guide my people, for they are not aware!”
[Sunan al-Nabi, p. 413]
This is the kind of love for the emancipation of mankind Muhammad had. Instead of cursing the enemies, he prayed for their salvation and yearned for their eternal prosperity.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 010
CRITERIA OF COMPANIONSHIP
Prophet Muhammad in one of his brilliant dictums teaches mankind the formula of choosing the ideal companion. He is reported to have said:
“A good companion is like a perfume seller; even if he is unable to spare you any perfume, the pleasant fragrance of his perfumes will engulf you, while a bad companion is like a blacksmith whose flame you might be able to escape but you will surely be surrounded by the bad smell of his work place.”
[Nahj al-Fasahah, Hadith 2710]
Indeed this is one of the most beautiful formulas of selecting companions in different walks of life: companion at home, companion at workplace, etc.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 011
IMPARTIAL JUDGMENT
Prophet Muhammad has said:
“Accept truth from any person, be he a child, an old man or even an enemy or a stranger, and reject falsehood from any person, be he a child, an old man or even a friend or a companion.”
[Nahj al-Fasahah, No. 428]
This dictum depicts the fundamental principle of justice. It teaches the human being not to succumb to emotion whilst drawing lines between truth and falsehood.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 012
SPARKLING INSIDE
Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:
“A believer is like a house that is apparently ruined, but is neat and beautiful inside, whereas a wicked person is like an elevated [and decorated] tomb that makes visitors excited but is inwardly filled with rot.”
[Nahj al-Fasahah, No. 2730]
This is one dictum that provides a powerful criteria to judge the fundamental beauty of the human being. Without covert beauty, however mesmerizing the overt beauty may be, it has no value.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 013
COMPREHENSIVE ATTENTION
The following is narrated about Prophet Muhammad:
“The Messenger of God (Muhammad) would distribute his glances between his companions. He would look at one, and then the other, equally.”
[Sunan al-Nabi, p.47]
Many of us do not realize the fact that this is an important principle of social ethics. Furthermore, body language has a very powerful impact on the people. Prophet Muhammad knowing the kernel of the fabric of the human being taught us how to interact when meeting a group of associates. It must be remembered however that such body language did not spring from a superficial manifestation, but a revelation of the inner states of Muhammad who reckoned every human being as precious and worthy of attention.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 014
REFRAINING FROM FAULT FINDING
One of the companions of Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:
“I heard the Messenger of God say: “If you follow the deficiencies of people you will corrupt them or be close to corrupting them.”
[Mizan al-Hikmah, p.195]
Prophet Muhammad directs us to avoid treating the maladies of the soul with a negative approach. It is important therefore to look at the bright side of people and in case deficiencies do appear, to guide them to a path of reform.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM - 015
IMPORTANCE OF ANIMALS
Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:
“A woman was doomed to Hell, for she had kept a cat in bonds without food until it died from hunger."
[Nahj al-Fasahah, no. 1559]
Animals are creatures of God, and must be placed in their proper place. Prophet Muhammad teaches us not to reckon animals as nonentities. Every creatures of God has an important role to play and subsists due to a purpose. Hurting the animals is something that is completely abhorred in Islam.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 016
BUSINESS ETHICS: THE RESULT OF CHEATING
Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:
“He who sells a flawed commodity, not stating it, remains despised by God, and the angels continuously curse him.”
[Mizan al-Hukmah, p. 831]
The Prophet here admonishes those who have the habit of cheating in business that even if they may experience immediate material prosperity and abundance, they have a reality that is remote from God and an evil future is ahead of them.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 017
BETRAYAL OF TRUST
Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:
“The one who betrays his trust is not from us."
[Mizan al-Hikmah, p. 357]
This reveals how fundamentally important is to keep one's trust. Prophet Muhammad teaches us that it is a condition of being a faithful Muslim.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 018
DISCLOSING THE SECRETS
Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:
“Disclosing the secret of your brother is betrayal, so keep away from that."
[Mizan al-Hikmah, p. 358]
In this brilliant dictum Prophet Muhammad teaches us that one of the subtle extensions of trust is to keep the secrets of a fellow brother in faith. It also reveals how Islam and its prophet respect every individual and do not allow his secrets and deficiencies to be unraveled.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 019
AMICABLE ENCOUNTER
Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:
“Being amicable towards people is half of faith, and being gentle and kind to them is half of life."
[Mizan al-Hikmah, p. 367]
Hence any kind of barbarism, hooliganism, etc. are extremely remote from Islam, the Prophet of Islam and all the Muslims.
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 020
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best jihad is performed by one who awakes in the morning with no intention to wrong anyone.’[al-Mahasin, v. 1, p. 456, no. 1053]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 021
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He who treats people in such a way that he never wrongs them, and speaks to them and never lies to them, and when he makes a promise to them he never breaks it, such a person is perfect in his valorous qualities, his justice is manifest, and it becomes obligatory to consider him as one’s brother and prohibited to backbite him.’[al-Khisal, p. 208, no. 28]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 022
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘He who associates with people as he himself would like others to associate with him is indeed just.’[Kanz al-Fawa’id, v. 2, p. 162]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 023
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The eradication of the whole world is more insignificant for Allah than the blood that has been shed without right.’[al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib, v. 3, p. 293, no. 6]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 024
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The best of deeds in the sight of Allah is the happiness that you bring to a fellow believer, either by driving away his hunger or by relieving him of his distress.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 191, no. 11]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 026
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Let the advice a man gives to his brother be the same advice he would give to himself.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 20, no. 5]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 027
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘As for the signs of the adviser, there are four: he judges with truth, gives the right due from his own self, accepts for people what he accepts for himself, and he does not transgress against anybody.’[Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, p. 20]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 028
`Aa’isha narrated, ‘When Ibrahim [the Prophet’s son] passed away, the Prophet (SAWA) cried such that tears rolled onto his beard, so people said to him, ‘O Prophet of Allah, you dissuade people from crying and here you are now crying?!’ to which he replied, ‘This is not crying, it is compassion, for he who does not have compassion [for others] will not be treated with compassion [by Allah].’[Amali al-Tusi, p. 388, no. 227]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 029
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘The evil deed to be punished the quickest is agression.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 327, no. 1]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 030
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Allah has commanded me to treat people amicably just as He has commanded me to fulfill the religious obligations.’[al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 117, no. 4]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 031
When the Prophet (SAWA) saw a she-camel, whose knees were tied up, carrying her load, he said, ‘Where is her owner? Tell him that he should prepare for the lawsuit tomorrow [the Day of Resurrection].’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 7, p. 276, no. 50]
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INTRODUCING THE PROPHET OF ISLAM – 033
The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Disclosing the secret of your brother is betrayal, so keep away from that.’[Bihar al-Anwar, v. 77, p. 89, no. 3]
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