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Name
Arkelie
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Profession
Question
Can you please give examples of Muhammad's modesty?
Answer
First, he hated that people would stand up to glorify him and even said that anyone who feels proud that people would stand up to glorify him, let him take his seat in Hell.
Whenever he came to join people who were sitting, he would sit wherever a space was available.
One time, he was traveling with some Companions when it was time to prepare a meal, his companions started dividing the work among themselves, the Prophet intervened and said, “and I take the duty of collecting firewood.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, we can do this for you.” He answered, “I know you can do that for me, but I hate to have a distinction over you.”
In building the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah he was working physically with his Companions.
And when Muslims were digging a trench around Madinah to protect it from the advancing the hostile Arab army he was picking an ax and helping them.
Another example, in his most victorious moment while re-entering Makkah, he was lowering his head on the back of his camel in prostration of thanksgiving to Allah.
These are few examples.
Name
Dohei
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Profession
Question
Your prophet is greatly perceived negatively in the West. I was wondering if you could tell me if Muhammad addressed forgiveness, and if he did, what sayings?
If you know of any books that explain what your faith says about forgiveness could you mention them?
Answer
The character of the Prophet, peace be upon him, was described by his wife `Aisha as “the Qur’an”. This means that he was the embodiment of the beliefs and moral qualities taught in the Qur’an, the word of Allah. In the Qur’an there are numerous verses that teach forgiveness. Even those verse that affirms the right of “the law of equality” and protection of people’s rights, they still indicates that forgiveness is better.
Describing the pious, the Qur’an says, (Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men; for Allah loves those who do good.)
(Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate!)
(But turn away from them, and say "Peace!" but soon shall they know!)
As for his forgiveness, when he went to a township near Makkah to invite people to Islam, he was mocked at and stoned until he was bleeding profusely, yet he was praying, "O Allah, forgive my people for they know not what they are doing." Also praying that would produce from the loins of such brutal abusers children who would worship God. This is exactly what happened later.
A second example is when he entered Makkah victoriously after years of forced exile which were preceded by thirteen years of abuse and persecution. As he stood near the ka`bah, the House of Abraham, he told his former tormentors and persecutors, "There is no blame on you this day. You all go free"
For references on Islam and its teachings, you may use my series called “Islamic Teachings” under the section of “Moral Teachings.”
For books, you could use “Islam in Focus” by Hamouda Abdel ati, or “Towards Understanding Islam” by Maududi.
Name
Mukhtar
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Profession
Question
I love the Prophet peace be upon him. Does loving him need any requirements?
Thanks
Answer
The first requirement is to study his life and character so that such love is based on solid and inspiring grounds. Secondly, to follow him, as Allah be praised says, (say (O Muhammad), if need you love Allah, the follow me – Allah will you more and forgive your sins.)
The third requirement is to educate others about him so as to expand that circle of love. Fourthly, to defend his good name and reputation in the face of unjust and hateful attempts provided that this is done in a peaceful and rational manner.
Name
Steve
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Profession
Question
Why did you love Muhammad if he killed people?
Answer
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was not sent by Allah to destroy life but to protect it. He and his followers were the ones who were persecuted, tortured and some even killed because of adhering to faith in God. They endured this for thirteen complete years in Makkah, but were still instructed by Allah through His Prophet not to lift a finger even for their legitimate self-defense. Even after the forced exile of the Prophet and his followers and their dispositions they faced wave after wave of attacks by their brutal enemies, it was then that God permitted the community for the first time to defend itself against aggression and oppression. There was nothing that the Prophet hated more than war and bloodshed. But like in our world today and throughout history, failing to stop aggression and tyranny is actually paving the way for more and more killing of innocent people. But what I suggest to you, brother Steve, is to read an authentic biography of Prophet Muhammad. I would highly recommend Martin Lings’ Muhammad: His life from the earliest sources.
You may also read a more comprehensive work on Jihad and its grounds in my paper published on Islamonline: Muslim/Non-Muslim Relations.
Name
Montaqa
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Profession
Question
How can I know that I TRUELY love the Prophet?
Answer
If indeed you follow his teachings and take him as the perfect human role model, that is the best indicator of loving him. Also, by invoking the peace and blessings of Allah upon him whenever his name is mentioned, is also a common manifestation of love.
Name
Mostafa
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Profession
Question
Salam dear Prof.
Why did the Sahabah of the Messenger of Allah showed 'astonishingly' loving examples when dealing with the Messenger peace be upon him?
Answer
First, because they loved Allah, and loving Allah means to love those who are beloved by Allah, especially the prophets and the pious. Muhammad, peace be upon him, to the Muslims is the greatest of the great and he was blessed with the unique honor of being the final Prophet and Messenger of Allah, and the only Prophet whose mandate was explicitly to the whole of humanity. Secondly, they loved him because of his most exhausted moral excellence, a testimony by Allah in Surat al-Qalam (chapter 68). Thirdly, they considered loving the Prophet, peace be upon him, as one of the signs of iman (faith). Fourthly, they were closer to him and seeing is not like hearing, such companions were blessed with close encounter and interaction with the greatest human to tread our planet.
Name
Chosen
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Profession
Question
How was love shown in the life of the Prophet peace be upon him?
Answer
Love was shown in every level and aspect of the Prophet’s love. It was shown in his kindness to his wives and his exhortations to the believers, “The best of you is the best in treating his wife.”
It was shown in his loving and gentle manners with his children and grandchildren, carrying them sometimes on his back and playing with them.
It was also shown in his concern and sacrifice for the sake of his Companions.
It was even shown as in the answer to a previous question, to those who hated him unjustifiably and persecuted him while he continued to pray for their guidance.
It was even shown when going to the battlefield, when it was necessary, to ward off aggression or resist oppression. Even in the battlefield he taught that the aggressors should be invited for the last time, just before the battle began, to agree to just peace. Even as the battle took place, he forbade harming any non-combatants, women, elderly, children, monks and clergies of other religions. He forbade uprooting fruitful trees, killing animals except for food, destruction of home and other non-military targets, killing an already injured person from the enemy’s camp, mutilating bodies of those killed I the battlefield, and even torturing prisoners of war. Please note that this was done nearly 14 centuries before international humanitarian laws of war, which have been and still are violated by powerful nations in our times.
He showed love also as a gentle teacher and friend. In fact he was the embodiment of love for all humanity even those who opposed him. He even showed love of all creation of Allah, animals, vegetation, and ecology.
Unfortunately a lot of such qualities have been beclouded with the thick smoke of false and hateful propaganda against him.
Name
Tarek
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Profession
Question
Assalamo Alaikom Dr. Jamal
Which book do you consider is the best book written in English about the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him?
Answer
Martin Lings' Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources.
Name
Denis
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Profession
Question
Why do Muslims get easily irritated when Muhammad is portrayed negatively? Why do they take it to streets and burn flags of nations? Did Muhammad even teach angry reaction as a response to attacks on his personality?
Answer
There is a difference between the Muslim’s sense of offense and grief against the negative and unfair portrayal of the Prophet, peace be upon him, on one hand, and the method of expression or objection to such offense. The Muslim who knows the real life and character of the Prophet, peace be upon him, loves him so deeply and sees in him the perfect human role model in his or her daily life and assault on the Prophet is an assault on the Muslim’s core identity. However, I have been among those who are on records consistently or at least two decades since Rushdie’s Satanic Verses, who strongly object to any violent or excessively emotional reaction.
As for your second question, the answer is no. There are many authentic narrations about the Prophet, peace be upon him, being attacked personally, yet he responded in amazingly controlled manner. For example, when a Bedouin Arab came to him in Madinah when he was the head of the city state, and held him from the collar of his garment and shook him violently demanding in an offensive manner that he be given financial help, the Prophet’s amazing reaction was to smile in the face of his attacker and order that he should be given the help he needed.
So when it came to attacks on the Prophet himself as an individual, he never took revenge for his own. However, whenever the attack was at the core of the community, its security and long-term well-being, he did not hesitate to defend the community and punish the perpetrators.
Name
Amr
- Egypt
Profession
Question
How can I differentiate between deeds that the Prophet peace be upon him loves and the ones he hates, in modern context?
Answer
The most important issue here is to realize that the Prophet’s love or hate of a certain deed is all related to the Islamic moral code. He certainly loved all acts of righteousness, sincerity, compassion, honestly and so on. He hated everything that is evil, brutal, arrogant and oppressive. Our task today is to evaluate every act against the moral standards set in the Qur’an and elaborated and exemplified in the Prophet’s life.
Name
Mona
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Profession
Question
How did Muhammad deem love? Did he recognize romantic love? Or he featured general love? I always thought Prophets didn't have romantic love, as it is perceived as "evil" and "sinful".
Answer
It depends as to what we mean by “romantic love”. If we mean by that the sense of intense love of one’s spouse or fiancée, then there is nothing blameworthy about it. The Prophet, peace be upon him, showed that love to his wives. In one instance, he let his wife `Aisha stand behind him and lean her cheeks on his while both watched the “male” Abyssinian dancing in his mosque in Madinah.
What is considered evil and sinful is to let oneself fall in love with someone else’s spouse. This is the situation where the utmost self-control is required. To be lax on this issue is to open the door for actually in grave sins that may ultimately destroy families and society.
It should be stated frankly also that in the youthful years of our lives we may feel as humans strong admiration and liking of a person from the opposite sex. That feeling in itself is only human. The problem, however, is when we go too far in such emotions to the point of possible slipping gradually into what is not only sinful but disastrous for our future. One way of dealing with such intense is to consider marriage if we are ready for it. As Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not recommend anything for two people loving each other except to getting married to each other.
Name
Ezz
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Profession
Question
Is it allowed for a Muslim to say in his prayer sayduna Muhammad during reciting tashahud?
Answer
The Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us “pray as you see me pray”. There is no authentic report that I know of that the Prophet, peace be upon him, used “sayduna” in tashahud. Our love of the Prophet, peace be upon him, is best manifested in following his example especially when it comes to acts of worship. However, I am not aware of any restriction on using sayduna as an affectionate title outside of the pure act of worship. This is not only an expression of the love of the Prophet, peace be upon him, but an expression of the love of Allah, who instructed the love for the Prophet, (say (O Muhammad), if need you love Allah, the follow me – Allah will you more and forgive your sins.
Name
Mahran
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Profession
Question
Is loving the Prophet a condition to enter Paradise?
Answer
It is inconceivable that any Muslim does not love one that is most beloved by Allah. Furthermore, one of the three signs to have the sweet taste of iman is “that Allah and His messenger would be the most beloved by the person than anyone/anything else.” It is that love that makes us obey the Prophet, peace be upon him, which is equated in the Qur’an to the obedience of Allah, (He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah; but if any turn away, We have not sent you to watch over their (evil deeds).)
This does not mean the equality between Allah and His servant. It means however that the Prophet, peace be upon him, commands us to do what Allah commanded him and us to do. As such, obedience to him, is in reality obedience to Allah.
The Prophet, peace be upon him said, “Whoever obeys me, he will enter Paradise.”
Name
Editor
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Profession
Answer
Finally, we would like to thank our guest for speaking to Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We request our readers to join us in the upcoming sessions.
