Al-Huda
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the Message Continues ... 3/127
Newsletter for March 2012
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Muhammad (s), The
Mercy For The Worlds
A Profile of Compassion, Human
Rights and Social Justice.
by Nasir
Shamsi
In the aftermath of the horrific
tragedy of 9/11, in spite of negative press, there is growing
demand for Quran and books on Islam. People want to know the
truth about Islam. To understand Islam, a person needs to first
understand Muhammad (s), the Prophet of Islam.
Who was Muhammad
(s) ? In Quran ( chapter 21 , Verse 107), he is called
Mercy for the Worlds (Rahmatul Aalimeen). Quran also gives us a
very clear description of his life before he had received his
prophetic vision at age 40.
Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter ?
Did He not find you unable to see and guide you ?
Did He not find you needy and suffice you ? (93:6-8)
Islam, unlike Christianity, does not
associate divinity to the Prophet. Yet the Prophet’s actions and
words are protected against error through Divine Grace. This is
testified by Quran in these words:” He does not speak out of his
desire. It is but pure revelation that has been revealed to
him.” (53:4-5)
It was not until he was 40, when
Muhammad (s) received the Divine Message through Angel Gabriel
to announce that he was sent as Prophet to guide his people on
to the Right Path. This first revelation was received by
Muhammad (s) in the cave on the mountain Hira outside Makkah,
where he often retreated for meditation. The Prophet had been
summoned to admonish the pagans of Makkah who worshipped idols
and indulged in vulgar superstitions and rituals. It is
interesting that while he grew up as orphan under the protection
and tutelage of his uncle Abu Talib, from his early years,
Muhammad (s) had always exhibited, in his personal and business
dealings, his impeccable integrity, pristine integrity and
absolute truthfulness. In Makkah, he was known as Sadiq (True)
and Ameen (Trusty). The excellence of his character is also
mentioned in the Quran: “ Indeed there is for you in the Prophet
of God (Muhammad) an excellent example of conduct.” (33:21)
Human Rights and Social Justice
The pagans of Makkah, who the
Prophet had been summoned to reform had no regard for even the
basic human rights. They indulged in disputes and prolonged
battles on trivial issues. They treated women badly. They looked
down upon the birth of a female child, even killed or buried her
alive. The poor had no voice. They were exploited through usury
(loaning money at exorbitant rates) and made slaves for non-
payment of dues. Slaves were tortured, even killed, with
impunity. Slavery was despised by Muhammad (s). While he
helplessly watched the prevalent social injustice, total
disregard for human rights and worship of idols in houses as
well as in Ka’aba, the House of God built by his ancestor
Abraham, he never prostrated before the idols.
His marriage at the age of 25 to
Khadijah, a wealthy lady from his clan who was in caravan
business (that he had managed for her for some time) made him
financially sufficient. He freed Zaid ibn Harithah , a young
slave of Khadijah’s household, and adopted him. He had Bilal, an
African slave paid for and freed. Bilal sat and dined with
Muhammad (s) and was given the noble role of the Muazzin (caller
for prayers). He remained Prophet’s close companion for 22 years
until his death.
Islam was not a new religion; it is
repository of all revealed scriptures and the principles and
ideas of the Prophets of all lands and ages. The religion of God
had changed hands from his Prophets, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses,
Jesus, finally attaining perfection at the hands of the Last
Prophet Muhammad (s), also a descendant of Abraham.
This is no small act for a man
coming from such precarious circumstances as him that the
Prophet Muhammad (s), stripped not Makkah alone but also the
whole Arabia from debasing idolatry and decrepit rituals in just
23 years and, before he passed away at age 63, he had already
established a model Islamic State based on compassion, human
rights, and social justice. It is no less than a miracle that in
such a short period of time the Prophet was able to transform
totally ignorant people divided into hostile clans into a united
and vibrant umma (community).
Not only the idol worshipper
surrendered themselves to the One and only One God, they
respected and recognized one another as equal, with no
discrimination on the basis of gender, race or color. According
to Professor Toynbee, “ The extinction of race consciousness as
between Muslims is one of the outstanding achievements of Islam
and in the contemporary world there is, as it happens, a crying
need for the propagation of this Islamic virtue.” (Civilization
on Trial, 1948). The Quranic declaration of unity and equality
of human beings as all creature of One God set the human rights
tradition in Islam. Minorities, the Jews and the Christians
enjoyed complete protection; they had the freedom to practice
their faith during the Prophet’s rule and under later Muslim
governments.
Pardon and Mercy and Compassion were
the hall marks of the Prophet of Mercy. He spared the lives and
property of those who had tormented him and his followers during
the thirteen years of his Prophetic Mission in Makkah. He hated
bloodshed and had great respect for human life. When he entered
Makkah with an unchallenged might and absolute victory just 8
years after he had been forced to leave his hometown, Muhammad
(s) declared general amnesty, forgiving even his worst enemies.
There was no demand for compensation, no confiscation of
property; even those who had murdered Muslims in the past were
pardoned. Impressed by the Prophet’s Mercy, most of Makkans
embraced Islam. The Prophet appointed a Makkan convert as the
Governor of Makkah. Leaving the administration of the city in
the hands of Makkans, he left with his men for Madina. He did
not leave a single soldier behind.
The Prophet established in Madina
and its adjoining territory what in our times is known as a
Welfare State. A State-run Treasury chest, the Baitul Maal was
created to provide assistance to the poor, the old, the needy
and the disabled. The citizens were required to earn their
living by honest means. Traders were free to conduct their
business, but hoarding, extortion and cheating were outlawed.
People were encouraged to bring more land under cultivation. Any
citizen who cultivated a barren land was given its ownership.
Following Quranic injunction, the Zakat tax (payable only by
Muslims) was introduced by the Prophet to help the poor, the
destitute and the wayfarer, among others in need. Zakat Funds
were also used to help free the slaves, and to establish travel
lodges to provide comfort and facilities for the travelers. The
Islamic institution of Zakat was a distant precursor of the
present concepts of Social Security and social benefit programs.
The Prophet abhorred usury. He was so touched by the plight of
the borrowers that he helped many debtors to get out of the yoke
of the money lenders even before he had embarked on his
prophetic mission. He abolished usury as soon as a Quranic
injunction was received, bringing relief to so many oppressed
families.
In conclusion, the French statesman,
novelist and poet, Alphonse de Lamartine writes in his
historical work, Histoire de la Turqui (1854):
“ Philosopher, orator, apostle,
legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational
dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty
terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire --
that is Muhammad. By all
standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well
ask, is there any man greater than him ? "
Nasir Shamsi, is Trustee of Al-Huda
Foundation (www.al-huda.com), and former Chairman of Muslim
Foundation Inc., New
Jersey.
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