|
 A
major part of the Prophet’s mission was to bring peace to the
world. One of the ways in which he strove towards this end was to
attempt to convince people that all men and women, albeit inhabiting
very different regions of the world, and different from one another
in color, culture and language, et cetera, were in fact blood
brothers and sisters. His message was crucial, for a proper
relationship of love and respect can be established only if that is
how human beings regard one another. To inculcate such feelings, the
Prophet would preach to his followers, "You are all Adam’s
offspring and Adam was made of clay." And in his prayers to his
Creator, he said, "O Lord, all Your servants are
brothers."
The
Prophet would exhort his followers to live in peace with their
fellow men, saying, “A true believer is one with whom others feel
secure,” one who returns love for hatred. He used to teach the
believers that anyone who would return love only when love was given
belonged on a lower ethical plane. The true believer never reasons
that only if people treat him well that he will treat them well in
return. He is accustomed rather to doing good to those who mistreat
him, and to refrain from harming those who do him injury. The
Prophet himself set the example. All his recorded words and actions
reveal him as a man of great gentleness, kindness, humility, good
humor and excellent common sense, with a great love for all people
and even for animals.
Despite
his position as leader, the Prophet never believed himself to be
greater or better than other people. He never made others feel
small, unwanted or embarrassed. He urged his followers to behave
kindly and humbly, releasing slaves whenever possible, and giving in
charity — especially to very poor people, orphans and prisoners
— without any thought of reward.
He
told the people that "every religion has some special
characteristic, that of Islam being modesty." In the absence of
such a virtue, no community can have lasting peace. The Prophet’s
own modesty, coupled with great strength of character, is depicted
in a well-known story of an old Makkan woman who hated the Prophet.
Every morning when the Prophet passed by her house, she would empty
a basket of rubbish on his head from the upper story of her house.
He never once remonstrated with her about this. One day, when the
Prophet passed through this area, no rubbish fell on his head.
Thinking that the old woman must be ill, he went upstairs to inquire
how she was, and found her ill in bed. When she discovered that the
Prophet had come to see her, she began to weep, "I ill-treated
you, and now you come to inquire after my health!" Ultimately,
she became one of his followers. What strength of character, what
patience and tolerance the Prophet evinced in refusing to be
provoked, preferring rather to show kindness and magnanimity to one
who had wished him ill.
His
was a high moral character, so that even if badly treated by others,
he went on returning good for evil. People harmed him, yet he would
pray for them. He would remain patient in the face of oppression
and, regardless of the provocation, he would refrain from becoming
incensed. In setting this example, his aim was to fashion souls that
were God-oriented, that found Allah so great that everything else
paled into insignificance. He wanted everyone to have such boundless
peace of mind that nothing could disturb him. Such balanced
individuals would never then become prey to worldliness. Totally
free from negative reaction, they would then be able to turn
everything in this world, whether material or spiritual, into food
for more profound thought, rather than into pretexts for rash and
vengeful action.
The
essence of this philosophy is expressed in one of the Prophet’s
sayings: "Nine things the Lord has commanded me: Fear of Allah
in private and in public; justness, whether in anger or in calmness;
moderation in both poverty and affluence; that I should join hands
with those who break away from me; and give to those who deprive me;
and forgive those who wrong me; and that my silence should be
meditation; and my words be remembrance of Allah; and my vision be
keen observation."
Throughout
the first thirteen years of his Mission, Prophet Muhammad preached
in Makkah, but it was in the face of bitter opposition from the
Makkans. When it became impossible for him to stay there, he left
for Madinah. Wars were waged against him, but he showed his
antagonists that the power of peace was far greater than that of
war. The peace treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah is a clear example of this,
when the Prophet agreed to every demand his antagonists made on the
sole assurance that peace would subsequently prevail.
His
life’s experience ranged from penury to prosperity, from defeat to
success, yet whatever the degree of well-being or hardship, he
steadfastly trod the path of moderation. At all times and right till
the end, he remained a patient and grateful servant of the Almighty,
bringing his message of peace and tolerance to mankind.
http://www.alrisala.org/Articles/prophet/message.htm |
