The Impact of the Holy Prophet’s Good Character on Society
The Impact of the Holy Prophet’s Good Character on Society
The Advent of the Seal
of all Prophets, Muhammad (pbuh)
'O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of good
tidings, and a warner, calling people to Allah by His grace, and as a
light-giving lamp.' (Al-Ahzab
33: 46-47).
Alhamdulillah, Summa
Alhamdulillah, today, I
continue to speak on our beloved Master, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), and his status
as the greatest prophet among all prophets. As I mentioned last week, while
Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is the greatest prophet and the last law-bearing
prophet, it does not mean there will be no prophets after him. Prophets and
Messengers of Allah will continue to come, but only from his own Ummah
(community), and not from the communities that have rejected him (pbuh). This
forms a chain of belief, where one Messenger confirms the other, and the new
Messenger is born from the community and faith of the previous Messenger of
Allah who has passed away.
'Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example
for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often.' (Al-Ahzab, 33: 22).
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Mecca, Arabia, nearly six hundred years after Hazrat Isa (as) [Jesus]. At that time, his people were deeply involved in idolatry, and their society was marked by corruption and decay. The Jews in Arabia had formed tribes and settlements but did not spread the message of the Unicity of Allah beyond their community. Christianity was divided into many feuding sects, and its stronghold, the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantium), was in decline.
The Duahs of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) & The Promise of Allah- Part 1
That great personality
who is the most perfect of all law-bearing and non-law-bearing prophets is none
but Muhammad (pbuh). He was born in Arabia at a time when Arabia and the rest
of the world were plunged into the darkness of infidelity to Allah. Idolatry
was rampant and caused havoc everywhere. It was him, a very humble and weak
human who was moreover an orphan – of both mother and father – from his early
childhood, who enabled a great spiritual revolution in the world, not just in
Arabia.
Bear in mind that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) did not let himself be attracted by gold and silver, by the superficial riches of this world. He preferred sacrificing for His Ummah so that they [i.e. all of us, his followers] may harvest the good of the hereafter as well as the pleasure of Allah when they [we, Muslims] follow in his footsteps.
The Messengers of Allah
'The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. (They proclaim) 'We make no distinction between any of His messengers.' And they say, 'We hear and obey. (We seek) Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You (alone) is the final return.' (Al-Baqara 2: 286)
All the prophets who preceded Muhammad (pbuh) were sent with a message of warning and guidance to a particular people. None of their messages was intended to be universal, including that of Jesus [Isa (as)], who was commissioned by Allah specifically as a prophet to the Children of Israel, Israel being another name given to Jacob [Yaqub (as)], until there came the last law-bearing prophet and messenger, i.e. Muhammad (pbuh) who was entrusted with the final and complete set of Allah’s laws as guidance for the whole of humanity for all times to come. So, who were some of those prophets of Allah?
Hazrat Ibrahim (as) –
Abraham – is considered to be a community (Ummah) and a universe by
himself. The question that arises is why Hazrat Ibrahim (as) was granted the
title of ‘Ummah’?
Ibrahim (Abraham) was an Ummah i.e. a leader having all the good, righteous qualities of a nation, obedient to Allah, Hanif i.e. being someone who worshipped none but Allah and he was not one of the polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah, and those who joined partners – false gods – with Allah.
The Inner
Beauty of Muhammad (pbuh) The Holy Prophet of Islam
In one of his sayings, the Holy Prophet – peace be upon him – is narrated to have said: “Allah (God Almighty) is beauty and He loves beauty.” (Muslim)
Verily, the beauty which God Almighty truly seeks in a person is
his inner beauty. The way the person conducts himself, the way he talks, the
way he behaves with others, the way he accomplishes all his spiritual and
worldly duties with integrity, honesty, trust in Him [God Almighty] and the joy
of humility is what truly counts.
Indeed, humility is a light which drives someone to plunge into the Ocean of the Knowledge of God to perfect himself in it, and the perfect man who received this boon from the Almighty is the Holy Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him. For all Muslims and for the entire world he is to this day the only leader who though poor and humble, had conquered the world to the unity of God through connecting his own heart to the people. He had in him the courage and inspiration from God Almighty to encourage all those who chose to follow him to the heights of success. In just twenty-three years, he was able to reform a barbarous and ignorant people and shown to them the basics of true life and connect them to the Creator Who has them and the whole world within the grip of His Power.
Oh Allah!
Place light in my heart
And light in my tongue
And light in my hearing
And light in my seeing
And light from above me
And light from below me
And light on my right
And light on my left
And light ahead of me
And light behind me
Magnify for me light
And amplify for me light
Make for me light
And make me light
Allah the Exalted has said: “Verily, you (Muhammad) are on an exalted standard of character”.
(Surah Al-Qalam 68:5)
Allah furthermore says: “O you who believe! Do not
enter the houses of the Prophet for a meal without permission. If you are
invited, you may enter, but be punctual (so that you will not be waiting while
the meal is being prepared). When you have finished
eating, leave his home. Do not sit around chatting among yourselves. This will
annoy the Prophet but he will feel embarrassed to tell you. God does not feel
embarrassed to tell you the truth...” (Al-Ahzab
33: 54)
This is a reference to a particular incident. Some
companions stayed longer than what was proper on this occasion at the home of the
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) who was anxious to retire for the night. They
continued in conversation. Although the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) was
inconvenienced by their late stay, he nevertheless refrained from telling them
anything. This was in regard to his personal matters and not to such affairs
which came within the purview of Tabligh.
Hazrat Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (ra) narrated “The Prophet (pbuh) was more shy (from Haya: i.e. pious shyness from committing religious indiscretions) than a veiled virgin girl.”
WHAT IS ISLAM?
Then, let us see what Islam is. Muhammad (pbuh) the seal Messenger of Allah to mankind, defined Islam as follows: “Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad (pbuh) is His messenger, to perform prayers, pay the poor tax (Zakat), fast the month of Ramadan and do pilgrimage to the Holy House in Mecca if you have the means for that”.
Books of Islamic history record many events which happened prior to, during and after the birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Visions were seen and miracles happened, not only in Pre-Islamic Arabia but also around the world. Today, for our Sirat-un-Nabi Programme, I would like to present you a few of these signs and miracles.
'Render back trusts to the one who
entrusted it to you, and do not betray the one who betrays you.' (Abu Dawud)
Amaanah is honesty. Honesty is the respect of rights and
commitments. It is also to assume one’s responsibilities. Responsibilities are
a charge that Allah (twa) has entrusted to us. By fulfilling our
responsibilities we render back trusts to the one who is entitled to it.
Faith is an Amaanah. The
practice of religious obligations such as Prayers (Salat),
Fasting (Sawm), Mandatory Tax (Zakaat) Pilgrimage (Hajj) or
even the Wudhu and Ghusl, is an Amaanah.
To carefully learn the tenets of the Muslim faith and the laws of Islam is an Amaanah. To teach the Religion (Islam) is an Amaanah. To give sincere and dedicated advice is an Amaanah. Enjoining good and preventing evil, the Haraam (anything that is illegal) and injustices is an Amaanah.
Through this Eid sermon today, I hope that each member of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam today ponder over the submission and sacrifices which Hazrat Ibrahim (as) has shown. And realise also how Allah accepted this sacrifice and rewarded him for it. Likewise, each woman must reflect on the special type of submission which Hazrat Hajra (ra) demonstrated. All this was only for the cause of Allah and Allah did not let her down; she did not lose (the sweet fruits of her sacrifices). The children also must reflect on the complete submission which Hazrat Ismail (as) shown and how Allah has honoured him for all times. Therefore, the sacrifices which are done sincerely in the path of Allah shall never be in vain. Today, even when you are performing Qurbani, you must bear in mind that Allah is not looking at the meat or blood (of the animal) only but also at the quality of your sacrifices; that which Allah looks for is your heart, the intention and sincerity within. That’s all.
I pray to Allah that He grants me also and
all of us together this true spirit of sacrifice and whenever we have to do a
sacrifice, that Allah accepts it from us. Thus, like you heard after the Surah
Al-Fatiha, I recited the Verse 96 of Chapter 3 (Al-Imran), where
Allah says:
Say: Allah speaks the truth. Follow then the religion of Ibrahim, (who was) ever turned (to Allah), and was not among the idolaters. (3: 96)
The fundamental attribute of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) was Ibrahim the Hanif, that is, the ever turned to Allah. He humiliated himself before the One to whom he was ever turned (that is, he curbed/prostrated himself before Allah only). Therefore, even if ever he did an error, but the fact remains that he turned himself completely to Allah, he worshipped Allah only. He did not incline himself to any other than Allah. Therefore the central attribute for him is Ibrahim the Hanif.