We need a Prophet to learn why we were created, where we came from, where we are going, and how to worship our Creator properly. Prophets guided people, through personal conduct and the heavenly religions they conveyed, to develop their inborn capacities and directed them toward the purpose of their creation. Had it not been for them, humanity would have been left to decay. As humanity needs social justice as much as it needs private inner peace, the Prophets taught the laws of life and established the rules for a perfect social life based on justice. Thus, Prophets were sent throughout history and whenever humanity would fall into darkness, God would send another one to enlighten them again. This continued until the coming of the Last Prophet.Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) remains an exceptional role model for all of humanity. His life exemplifies compassion, honesty, justice, humility, and perseverance. His teachings encourage forgiveness, tolerance, and the pursuit of knowledge. The character of the Prophet (SAW)was exemplary and his manners were beautiful. He didn’t take rest like other people, he was constantly concerned for his ummah (community). He spoke with measured and comprehensive words and was often silent for long periods. He was loved for his soft and gentle character. The Quran says: {And if you were harsh hearted they would have fled from around you} [āl ʿim’rān:159]. The Prophet (SAW)never found fault in anything and he was never in state of agitation or perturbation. He never generalized. He saw every single person as a potentially good Muslim and human being. He advised us to maintain relations with those who cut us off, to do good to people even if they harm us, and to speak the truth even if it is against ourselves. When Abdullah ibn Salam r.a. saw the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)for the first time him, he said he knew from the blessed face of the Prophet (SAW)that this was not the face of a liar. On simply seeing the Prophet s.a.w, Abdullah ibn Salam r.a. declared the Oneness of Allah and accepted Islam right there and then because he witnessed the inner and outer beauty of the Prophet s.a.w, peace and blessings be upon him. Such was the perfection, beauty and power that was manifested in the Prophet (SAW). Once a group of hostile unbelievers in Mecca, began to torture a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)named Khubaib.r.a. The leader of the group, Abu Sufyan asked Khubaib (r.a) “Don’t you wish that Muhammad (SAW)were in your place so that you could be with your family?” Khubaib (r.a) replied that he would rather be cut into pieces than see even a thorn prick the blessed foot of the Prophet (SAW)as he was being killed, Khubaib (r.a.) then supplicated to Allah asking him to convey his greetings to the Prophet (SAW)Usamah bin Zaid (r.a.) said he was seated with the Messenger of SAW’s) eyes become teary as he returned the greetings. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW)said, «Allah has conveyed Khubaib’(R.A)’s greetings to me». On this occasion, Abu Sufyan exclaimed that the followers of Roman and Persian emperors never loved them as much as Muhammad’(SAW’s) followers loved him. It is narrated that each and every one of the companions felt like they were the most beloved to the Prophet s.a.w, peace be upon him. He was sensitive to the needs and feelings of each one of them. One day when the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)saw was traveling with his companions, his party stopped under some trees to take shelter from the sweltering mid-day heat. A Bedouin came across the group and found the Prophet (SAW) napping alone, away from his companions who were also asleep. The man, Gawras, seized the opportunity and grabbing the Prophet (SAW’s) sword, held it against the neck of the Prophet (SAW)asking, “Who’s going to save you from me now?” The Prophet (SAW) exclaimed «Allah!» With that Gawras was overcome with emotion and the sword fell from his hands. The Prophet (SAW)picked up the sword. Holding it against Gawras’ neck, he asked the same question. The man asked that the Prophet (SAW)be a generous taker of his life. In response, the Prophet (SAW)simply pardoned Gawras, and let him go free. The Prophet s.a.w, peace and blessings be upon him, used to address his wives with beautiful names, race with them and play with them. His wife Ayesha said he always used to joke in the house. He fed his wives with his own hands out of love and affection. He would never complain of the food placed before him. No man was busier than the Prophet (SAW)but when he shook hands of another person, he would never release his grip until the other person did. After his passing, the reaction of his companions was tremendous. They couldn’t even tolerate separation from him let alone his death; they loved him more than themselves, their family and their children. On the day of the Prophet (SAW’s) passing away, Usman ibn Affan (r.a.) was struck motionless, he could not comprehend what had happened. Ali bin Abi Talib r.a. fell unconscious. Umar Farooq, the one from whom Satan himself used to run away from, was swinging a sword threatening to cut off the head of anyone who said the Prophet (SAW)had passed away. The companions in general exclaimed that they wished they had died before they saw this day. Such was the impact the companions of the Prophet (SAW)felt when he passed away.
“Although faced with unimaginable hatred and backlash from the community in the beginning, the Prophet (SAW) remained steadfast in his determination to be an example of patience, understanding, and forgiveness. The Prophet (SAW) is said to have told his companions and family members: “Be lenient to the people in their affairs and do not be rigid; give hope to them and do not cause break up among them. Islam is a balanced religion, so be moderate in acting on its commandments”.
The Holy Prophet (SAW)remains an example of piety, love, devotion, and strength for all of humanity, and not only Muslims. His life, although documented, remains one of the most intriguing and questioned lives on earth – many continue to yearn for the smallest of details on the life of the Prophet (SAW)From his physical characteristics to his moral attributes, the Prophet (SAW)continues to teach us all on how to live a God-centric, holy, and moral life. There are many accounts of his companions, family, and even onlookers who described the face of the Prophet (SAW)as being radiant, like the moon on the 14th night of the lunar month. This nour, or light, often shone brighter when he laughed. His neck was also said to be clean and shone like silver. Many have also described that even when the Prophet (SAW)would perspire, the drops of sweat would shine like pearls on his forehead.It is narrated that the Prophet (SAW)once said: “I will not give up five habits as long as I live: To eat sitting on ground with slaves, to ride on a pony without a saddle, to mulch goat with my own hands, to wear coarse woolen cloths, and to greet children, so that it may become a popular habit after me and people follow suit”. His humbleness remains one of the most inspiring characteristics. The walk of a person often says a lot about their character. The Prophet (SAW)is narrated to have often walked with his head bowed down, with his eyes facing the earth and not the sky. It is said that he used to lower his head, as if he were descending from above, and walked with long strides with an aura of slight sombreness. There are many examples of the Prophet (SAW’s) characteristic of staying away from the riches or material goods of this world. One is such: “The Holy Prophet (SAW) said to Harzat Ali (r.a.): ‘Take this amount and buy a shirt for me’. Ali (r.a) says: ‘I went to the market and bought a shirt for twelve dirhams’. The Holy Prophet (SAW)looked at it and said: A cheaper shirt would suit me better. O Ali! Do you think the shopkeeper will take it back?The Prophet (SAW)was known for loving beautiful fragrances and smells, and encouraged all Muslims to take care of their hygiene. The fragrance from the Prophet (SAW)was said to be beautiful and pleasing, with many claiming that even the perspiration of the Prophet (SAW)would be smelling of an appealing scent of musk. Even during the middle of the night it has often been reported that the Prophet (SAW)would be awake in prayer. One such narration was when the wife of the Prophet (SAW)found him weeping in prayer, teaching us all the power of turning to God for forgiveness: “One night the Holy Prophet (SAW)was in Umm Salma’s (r.a) apartment. At midnight, when Umm Salma (r.a) awoke she could not find the Prophet (SAW)in his bed. She arose to look for him and saw him standing in a corner with raised hands, weeping and praying: ‘My Lord! Let not the things which You have gifted to me be wasted and do not make the jealous enemies joyful regarding me. My Sustainer! Do not turn me to the evils from which You have saved me and do not leave me to myself even for a split second.’ Umm Salma returned from there weeping. When the Prophet (SAW)heard her, he asked for the reason. She replied: ‘O Messenger of Allah! May my parents be sacrificed on you. How can I stop weeping when you are wailing and weeping like this in spite of the fact that your rank is very high in God’s sight and when the Almighty Allah has already forgiven your errors?Many have documented about the pleasant and sweet voice of the Prophet (SAW), and how he would never raise his voice or reply harshly to those who came to him for help or questions. According to one source: “Had the Holy Prophet (SAW)read Qur’an, people would not have been able to bear its sweetness. The narrator asked the Imam: ‘How then was the Holy Prophet (SAW) reciting the Holy Qur’an during congregational prayers?’ The Imam replied: ‘He recited only up to a bearable extent’. Although faced with unimaginable hatred and backlash from the community in the beginning, the Prophet (SAW) remained steadfast in his determination to be an example of patience, understanding, and forgiveness. The Prophet (SAW) is said to have told his companions and family members: “Be lenient to the people in their affairs and do not be rigid; give hope to them and do not cause break up among them. Islam is a balanced religion, so be moderate in acting on its commandments”. The Prophet (SAW) was never afraid to show his love for children, and would openly smile and laugh with them. He would also embrace his grandsons Hassan and Hussein in front of the many Arabs who at the time were not accustomed to show affection towards children, and would even carry his grandsons on his shoulders in public. The Prophet (SAW) would also always be the first to greet children when he would walk the streets. As the Holy Quran itself states, the gentleness and peacefulness of the Prophet Mohammed (SAW)is what made him so incredibly powerful, and stands as a reminder to us all in the power of love, peace, and quiet strength: “It is by God’s mercy that you are gentle to them; and had you been harsh and hardhearted, surely they would have scattered from around you. So excuse them, and plead for forgiveness for them, and consult them in the affairs, and once you are resolved, put your trust in God. Indeed God loves those who trust in Him [Quran 3:159]”. The Prophet Muhammad is the most documented man in history. We know more about him than any other person who ever lived. In a very oppressive elitist society, he established a just society that gave rights to the poor, women and people of all races. His fundamental message was to call people to the worship of the one true God, without any partners or equals. The early Muslims were tortured and persecuted by the people of Makkah. The response of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) along with his followers, was to bear this persecution with patience and forbearance. This period of the Prophet Muhammad’s life lasted thirteen years. In the Makkan period, the Prophet Muhammad was physically harmed. He had camel intestines thrown on him during the prayer, was pelted with rocks until he bled profusely and even some of his followers were tortured to death. Yet, the Prophet did not take any personal revenge. When he conquered the city of Makkah, contrary to other conquerors who kill and plunder, the Prophet demonstrated one of the greatest acts of mercy and clemency in the history of humanity, by forgiving the very people that had fought him and thousands of lives were spared that day.
(The authors regularly on “Islamic topics” exclusively for “Kashmir Horizon”. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the authors and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Dr. Bilal A. Bhat
Intizar Ahmad
