Who is Muhammad?

Table of Contents

  1. The human need for role models
  2. There is one leader
  3. The concept of Prophethood in Islam
  4. Muhammad's personal life
  5. Muhammad, the Prophet
  6. Muhammad's legacy: the Madinan model
  7. What Notable Non-Muslim’s have said about Islam and Muhammad, son of ‘Abdullah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him?
  8. Saying of the Prophet Muhammad (may Peace and Blessings be upon him)

 

The human need for role models
Have you ever heard of Moses, Jesus, Confucius, Krishna or the Buddha? How about Gandhi, Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King? If you live in the West, there's a good chance that you know a bit about these people and their accomplishments. In man's eternal search for immortality and meaning, many leaders and heroes, both true and false, have made their appearance on the world stage. The respect and reverence shown to such figures among people of every nationality, in every age, points to a deep human need to believe in someone greater than oneself, in an attempt to transcend the confines of one's own limited existence. We see this theme recur in world myths, legends, hero stories, and in the idealization of people who have been raised by their followers to superhuman or godly status.

There is one leader
Still largely unknown to the West, who is an extraordinary role model that people of all backgrounds can relate to: the Prophet Muhammad. The details of Muhammad's remarkable life have been carefully preserved and have been subjected to the scrutiny of historians, east and west. In contrast to others who have achieved renowned for their accomplishments in a limited sphere of activity, Muhammad's achievements span all major areas of life.
The historian Michael H. Hart wrote:
My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels. Hart, Michael, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.

Why does the average European or American know so little about a man whose life was so exceptional? Irrational fears and negative propaganda, dating back to the Crusades and exaggerated by the media, have created a 'mental block' for many people against all things Arab or Islamic, and the two terms are very often mistakenly confused. As we enter the age of the global village, is it not time for those who pride themselves on being unprejudiced, independent thinkers to put aside these mental relics from a previous era? We invite you to take a few minutes to explore a new understanding of religious leadership, and in so doing, to catch a glimpse of a man who is loved by one-fifth of the world.

The concept of Prophethood in Islam
For a Muslim, a Prophet does not primarily imply someone able to foretell the future - although most of Muhammad's predictions have already been fulfilled in astonishing ways - but a man sent by God to call people to repent, have faith, and dedicate their lives to doing good, thereby helping them rediscover the purpose for which they were created. Prophets are not considered to be Divine, and are not prayed to or worshipped - though they were men of outstanding character and spirituality who were protected from committing sins, performed miracles, received revelation and communed with God.
Islam teaches that God is One, without partner or associate; no human being can share in any of the qualities that are unique to the Intelligent Creator and Sustainer of our vast and complex universe. Muhammad was no more than God's honoured servant and Messenger, yet he embodied the best of human potential, and that is what continues to make him so appealing and accessible today. Last in a line of Prophets and Messengers sent by God to all people on earth - including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus - who effected the large-scale transformation of individuals and society, Muhammad was unsurpassed as a teacher and guide. Speaking of his own role as the last true Prophet before Judgment Day, he said:
'The parable of me in relation to the Prophets who came before me is that of a man who built a house beautifully and well, except that one brick in its corner was missing. The people went around it and wondered at its beauty, but said: "If only that brick were put in its place!" I am that brick, and I am the last of the Prophets.'

Muhammad's personal life
Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a noble family of Makkah, and was a descendant of the Prophet Abraham. Orphaned at six, Muhammad was a thoughtful youth who worked as a shepherd and helped his uncle with the trade caravans. As a teenager he rejected the immoral customs of his people, who had become steeped in idolatry, and joined a chivalrous order, earning the nickname 'The Trustworthy'. At the age 25 he found employment with a wealthy 40 year old widow named Khadijah, managing her business. Impressed by his honesty and character, Khadijah proposed marriage and he accepted. Despite their age difference, they were happily married for 25 years, and were blessed with six children. After Khadijah’s death Muhammad married several women for political and humanitarian reasons, as was expected of a man of his position; all but one were widows and divorcees. He was a loving and considerate husband and father, and his family was devoted to him despite his voluntary poverty, for he put into practice his own advice, 'the best of you is the one who is best to his own family.'

Muhammad, the Prophet
Muhammad received his first revelation from God at 40, through the Angel Gabriel. He continued to receive revelations for 23 years, on topics ranging from the Oneness of God and His wondrous handiwork, to stories of earlier prophets, morality and ethics, and life after death. These revelations became collectively known as the Quran, and are considered by Muslims to be the literal word of God; the Prophet's own words were collected separately. Muhammad's call to monotheism and social reform was heavily opposed by the Makkan elite; after enduring thirteen years of intense persecution, he and his followers were invited to relocate to Madinah, a town to the north that had been torn apart by generations of intertribal warfare. Muhammad successfully settled their differences and forged a bond of brotherhood between the two warring factions, as well as between the locals and the new emigrants. For Arab tribal society, this was an amazing accomplishment. The early Muslims learned to implement the golden rule under the Prophet's tutelage: 'No one truly believes until he desires for his brother what he desires for himself.'

Muhammad's legacy: the Madinan model
For Muhammad, religion was not a matter of personal conviction alone but a complete way of life, and Madinah flourished under his leadership. The Madinan model of government, based on justice, respect for human dignity and God-consciousness, became the template to which Muslims have looked for guidance and inspiration ever since. The Prophet drew up the world's first constitution in which the rights of religious minorities were protected, and entered into treaties and alliances with neighbouring tribes. He sent letters to the rulers of the Persians, Egyptians, Abyssinians and Byzantines, announcing his message of pure monotheism and inviting them to accept Islam. For the first time in history, women, children, orphans, foreigners and slaves were granted extensive rights and protection. Many of the Prophet's concerns seem surprisingly 'modern': he condemned racism and nationalism, saying 'there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab or a white man over a black man, except in righteousness.' He established laws protecting animals, trees and the environment. He encouraged free trade and ethical investments, but secured workers' rights and forbade usury. He worked for peace, but defined the parameters of the judicious use of force, when force was needed. He convinced people to give up alcohol, drugs, prostitution and crime, and promoted healthy living. He condemned domestic violence, encouraged his wives to speak their own mind, and granted Muslim women many rights not dreamed of in Europe until centuries later, including the right to own property, reject arranged marriages, and seek divorce because of incompatibility. And the Prophet encouraged his followers to seek beneficial knowledge wherever it could be found, with the result that Muslims never experienced a conflict between science and religion, and led the world in many fields of learning for centuries afterwards. Although his enduring legacy can be observed in everything from art to politics, Muhammad's greatest achievement by far was to re-establish pure monotheism. As simple and straightforward to understand as the nucleus at the centre of an atom, the concept of One God lies at the heart of Islamic culture. Muslims turn to their Creator for guidance, without the need for intermediaries, or the loss of dignity that idolatry and superstition bring.

The Prophet accomplished all this through the divine inspiration from God and his personal example; he inspired in his followers a love, devotion and sense of awe that was unparalleled. While other men would have been corrupted by the absolute power that he wielded in his later years, Muhammad remained humble, ever aware of the Source of his blessings. 'I am just God's servant,' he said, and 'I have only been sent as a teacher.' Although he spent his days in serving people and his nights in prayer, he preached religious moderation and balance; he forbade his followers to adopt a monastic lifestyle and preferred that they establish strong families and engage themselves in bettering the world around them, while remaining deeply conscious of God.

In the brief space of one generation and during his own lifetime, the Prophet Muhammad successfully transformed the faith, mentality and culture of the people of Arabia; within 100 years his message had touched the hearts and lives of millions in Africa, Asia and parts of Europe. The Prophet foretold that each succeeding generation would be worse than the one before it, and true to his prediction, Muslims have not always understood or honoured his example. But Muhammad's teachings, speeches and customs were carefully noted down by his Companions, and compiled into books of authentic sayings which are available in translation today. Along with the Quran, they form the holistic foundation of a satisfying way of life for practicing Muslims, while for others, they provide a fascinating glimpse into the heart and mind of an exceptional man and role model from whom much can be learned.


 What Notable Non-Muslim’s have said about Islam and Muhammad, son of ‘Abdullah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him?

What George Bernard Shaw said about Islam?

In the West, all sorts of maligns were invented against the Prophet Muhammad. On the other hand, the views of some famous non-Muslims authors and scholars regarding Prophet Muhammad may give some but not all the truth about the Prophet Muhammad.

Most of the people do not realize that the Prophet Muhammad is the last link of the chain of Prophets sent in different lands and times since the very beginning of the human life on this planet.

It is said that, man is the enemy of what he ignores. This might explain why the western media are almost always attacking the Prophet Muhammad, the Quran, Islam and Muslims.

Who is George Bernard Shaw?
Sir George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950) was an Irish, born in Dublin.  Shaw was a talent, distinguished, honoured and creative author. He is the first person to have been awarded both a Nobel Prize for Literature (1925) and an Oscar. Shaw wanted to refuse his Nobel Prize outright because he had no desire for public honours, but accepted it at his wife's behest: she considered it a tribute to Ireland.

What George Bernard Shaw said about Muhammad?

"I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today."
What George Bernard Shaw said about Islam?
"If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam."
Source: Sir George Bernard Shaw in 'The Genuine Islam,' Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936.
Michael H. Hart of USA, compiled a ranking list of the 100 most influential persons in the history of the entire humanity, who authored book “The 100 most influential persons", published in 1978 by Hart Publishing Company Inc.  He ranked Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as the number one, at the top of his list.

Following are brief quotations from the chapter on Muhammad (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him).

“My choice of Muhammad to lead the best of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels.

Of humble origins, Muhammad founded and promulgated one of the world’s great religions, and became an immensely effective political leader.  Today thirteen centuries after his death, his influence is still powerful and pervasive. The majority of the persons in this book had the advantage of being born and raised in centres of civilization, highly cultured or politically pivotal nations.  Muhammad, however, was born in the year 570, in the city of Mecca, in southern Arabia, at that time a backwards area of the world, far from the centres of trade, art and learning.  Orphaned at the age of six, he was reared in modest surroundings.  Islamic tradition tells us that he was illiterate.”

“When Muhammad died, in 632, he was the effective ruler of all of Southern Arabia”.

About the rapid spread of Islaam which continued after the demise of Muhammad, Michael Hart writes that the lands that accepted Islaam included ”The Northeast of Arabia the larger Neo-Persian Empire of Sassamids; to the northwest bay Byzantine, or Eastern Roman Empire, centered in Constantinople . . . all of Mesopotamia, Syria and Palestine.”
“By 711, North Africa, to the Atlantic Ocean, then the Visigoth Kingdom of Spain . . . stretching from the boarders of India to the Atlantic Ocean, the largest empire that the world had yet seen”.  

What Muhammad has done in 23 years?

During this short period of 23 years of his Prophethood, Muhammad has changed the complete Arabian Peninsula

  • From paganism and idolatry to worship of One God,
  • From tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion,
  • From drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and faithfulness,
  • From lawlessness and disorder to closely controlled living,
  • From utter ruin to the highest standards of moral superiority,
  • From killing their girls to the love and honouring of their girls, etc.

Who has done all of these in 23 years?

His Name is MUHAMMAD.
Has anyone in Human history done all of these transformations in 23 years?
That is why; the West has still to go a step forward to discover the correct reality about the Prophet Muhammad and the fact that he is the true and the last Prophet sent by the Lord God for the whole humanity

George Bernard Shaw:
"I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving the problems in a way that would bring the much needed peace and happiness.  Europe is beginning to be enamoured of the creed of Muhammad.  In the next century it may go further in recognizing the utility of that creed in solving its problems."
(A Collection of writing of some of the eminent scholars, 1935).

Lamartine's tribute to the Prophet:
"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could claim to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad?"
(Histoire de la Turquie, 1855).

Gandhi:
"I become more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days.  It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers and his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission.  These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle”.
(Young India, 1922).

Saying of the Prophet Muhammad (may Peace and Blessings be upon him)

Saying of the Prophet Muhammad (may Peace and Blessings be upon him) “A man who treats his relatives well in order to return their good treatment of him shows no real love for them. The man who really shows love for his relatives is one who treats them well despite their being unkind to him.”

“The most perfect of the believers in faith are the best of them in morals. And the best among them are those who are  best to their wives.”

“God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds.”

“God has imposed certain moral obligations, do not abolish them; He has forbidden certain things, do not indulge in them; He has laid down certain limits, do not transgress them, He is silent on certain Matters, do not knowingly argue over them.”

“When you pay Zakat (alms), you have done your duty, as is obligatory. But a person who amasses unlawful wealth and then makes gifts to the poor from it will have no spiritual reward for so doing. On the contrary, he will carry the burden of it with him into the next world.”

“Wise is he who controls his desires and prepares for the life which starts after death and cast down is he who lives for the love of this world and has false expectations from God.”

“On the Day of Judgement the rightful will be given their due. So much so that a goat with horns will be avenged for the goat without horns.”

“The man who enters Paradise will live in eternal blessedness. He will never be needy. Neither will his clothes wear out, nor will he lose his youth. Paradise has everything-things which have never been seen or heard of, and which are quite beyond human imagination.”

“None of you believes (completely) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.”

“The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. show mercy to those on earth, and God will show mercy to you.”

“Smiling at your brother is charity.”

“Whoever believes in God and the Last Day (the Day of Judgment) should do good to  his neighbour.”

“Pay the worker his wage before his sweat dries.”

A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well, he descended into it, drank his fill, and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man said, “This dog is feeling the same thirst that I felt.” So he went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, and gave the dog a drink. So, God thanked him and forgave his sins.} The Prophet was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?” He said: ‘There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human’.”