In the Name of Allah, the Most-Gracious, the Most Merciful
Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, to his admirers and foes alike, is incontestably one of the greatest and the most influential personalities in the history of mankind. The position this man occupies in the hearts of more than a quarter of the world population makes it pertinent that every right-thinking, fair and unbiased person should learn about this man. This then brings us to the following questions: Who is Muhammad? What did he stand for? What was his mission? What are his teachings? How did he live his personal and public life? What were the political, social and cultural circumstances of the environment in which he lived? What are the opinions of his followers and others about him? And what are the legacies he left for mankind? All these and other questions are what this essay is going to answer in the briefest way.
Birth and Upbringing
Muhammad, son of Abdullaah was born in the year 570 AD to a noble Quraish family of Makkah known as Banu Hashim. His birth took place at a time when the Arabs of the Peninsula were engaging in internecine wars and living in stark darkness; darkness of idolatry, social injustice, infanticide, alcoholism and all other social and moral vices one could think of. He was born an orphan for his father died before his birth. Six years after his birth, he lost his mother. His compassionate grandfather, 'Abdul-muttalib took care of him in the best manner any grandfather could do, but he also died two years later. His charge was then passed on to his loving uncle Abu Talib. His childhood was characterised with earnestness and modesty, and this is part of his preparation for the rule.
Muhammad, as a child was known for earnestness and modesty; traits that indicated the role he was destined to play later in his life. The Prophet of Islam was raised illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he was known as being truthful and trustworthy and as an embodiment of all noble and excellent traits. He was so peerless in honesty and probity that
he was conferred with the title of 'al-Ameen' which means 'the Trustworthy'.
During his early youth, he worked as a shepherd for Bani Sani Sa'd, and in Makkah. At the age of 25, he went to Syria as a merchant for Lady Khadijah who was later to become his wife.
Captivated by Muhammad's good manners, honesty, thoughtfulness, sincerity and truthfulness, and contrary to the norms, Khadijah offered herself in marriage to Muhammad, having rejected many prominent men who had asked for her hand in marriage. Muhammad humbly accepted the offer, and the marriage was blessed with six children. He remained married to her alone until her death, almost twenty-five years later.
The Prophet of Islaam later in his life, and after the death of his dear wife, Khadijah, married a number of wives. All but one of these women were widows and he married them not for lustful motives, as some detractors claim, but for some humanitarian, political, social and legislative reasons. I would like to leave the rest of the argument for Dr Annie Besant, who, though a non-Muslim scholar, writes:
"But do you mean to tell me that the man who in the full flush of youthful vigour, a young man of four and twenty, married a woman much his senior, and remained faithful to her for six and twenty years, at fifty years of age when the passions are dying married for lust and sexual passion? Not thus are men's lives to be judged. And you look at the women whom he married, you will find that by every one of them an alliance was made for his people, or something was gained for his followers, or the woman was in sore need of protection." (Dr. Annie Besant in 'The Life and Teachings of Mohammad,' Madras, 1932)
Prophet Muhammad was, in his youth, a combination of the best social attributes. He was an exemplary man of weighty mind and faultless insight. He shunned superstitious practices but took an active part in constructive and useful dealings; otherwise, he would have recourse to his self-consecrated solitude. He kept himself aloof from drinking wine, eating meat slaughtered on stone altars, or attending idolatrous festivals. He held the idols in extreme aversion and most abhorrence. He could never tolerate someone swearing by
Al-Lat and Al-'Uzza. Allaah's providence, no doubts, detached him from all abominable or evil practices.
Even when he tried to obey his instinct to enjoy some life's pleasures or follow some disrespectable traditions, Allaah's providence intervened to curb any lapse in this course. Ibn Al-Atheer reported Muhammad as saying: "I have never tried to do what my people do except for two times. Every time Allaah intervened and checked me from doing so and I never did that again. Once I told my fellow-shepherd to take care of my sheep when we were in the upper part of Makkah.
I wanted to go down to Makkah and entertain myself as the young men did. I went down to the first house of Makkah where I heard music. I entered and asked: 'What is this?' Someone answered: 'It is a wedding party.' I sat down and listened but soon went into deep sleep. I was awakened by the heat of the sun. I went back to my fellow-shepherd and told him of what had happened to me. I have never tried it again."
Al-Bukhaaree reported on the authority of Jabir bin 'Abdullah that he said: "While the people were rebuilding Al-Ka'bah, the Prophet
Muhammad went with 'Abbaas to carry some stones. 'Abbaas said: 'Put your loincloth round your neck to protect you from the stones.' (As he did that) the Prophet fell to the ground and his eyes turned skyward. Later on he woke up and shouted: 'My loincloth... my loincloth.' He wrapped himself in his loincloth." In another report: "His loins were never seen afterwards."
He proved himself to be an ideal man, who possessed a spotless character. He was the most obliging to his compatriots, the most honest in his talk and the mildest in temper. He was the most gentle-hearted, chaste, and hospitable and always impressed people by his piety-inspiring countenance. He was the most truthful and the best to keep covenant. His fellow-citizens, by common consent, gave him the title of Al-'Ameen (trustworthy).
Truthfulness and altruism were part of overwhelming manifestations of his life. His beloved wife, Khadijah gave an excellent summary of his conduct when she said: "Allaah will never disgrace you. You unite uterine relations; you bear the burden of the weak; you help the poor and the needy, you entertain
the guests and endure hardships in the path of truthfulness."
For the first forty years of his life, Muhammad had no prior knowledge of religion or any previously sent Message until the Qur'aan was revealed to him.
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