---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 10:31:31 -0800 (PST)
From: Madiba Saidy <[log in to unmask]>
To: saidy <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: THE TENETS OF ISLAM (re-post #5)
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
MUHAMMAD (PBUH): THE MESSENGER AND PROPHET OF ALLAH.
Praise be to Allah, from Whom we seek help and forgiveness. We seek refuge
in Allah from the evils of our souls. He whom Allah guides cannot be lead
astray, and he whom Allah does not guide no one can guide him. I bear
witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad
is His servant and apostle. O Allah! Send Your Mercy on Muhammad and on
the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Mercy on Abraham and on the
family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious. O
Allah! Send Your Blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You
sent your Blessings on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are
the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.
Allah, the Exalted, says: " It is He (Allah) Who has sent His Apostle
(Muhammad) with Guidance and the Religion of Truth that he (Muhammad) may
proclaim it over all religion even though the Pagans may detest it."
Q61:9. "And verily, you (Muhammad) are on an exalted (standard of)
character." Q68:4.
Say (O Muhammad!): "O mankind! I am sent unto you all as the apostle of
Allah to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is
no god but He: it is He that gives both life and death. So, believe in
Allah and His apostle the unlettered Prophet who believed in Allah and His
words: follow him so that you may be guided." Q7:158.
Prophet Muhammad (PUBH) was born on Rabbil Awwal 12, 571 A.D, for this
year, prophet's birthday is tomorrow, Saturday, June 26. His father was
Abdullah and his mother was Aminah. His father died before his birth and
his mother died when he was about six years old. He was in the care of
Abdul Muttalib, his grandfather, till 580 A.D. He lived with his uncle,
Abu Talib, after the death of his grandfather. He had no formal education
but used to accompany his uncle to neighboring cities on business trips
and in 594 A.D, he became the manager of Khadija's business. Khadija, a
widow, was so impressed about his honesty that she offered herself in
marriage in the year 595 A.D. Despite the fact that she was older, she
trusted, respected and surrendered all her wealth to prophet Muhammad
(PBUH). Everybody in Mekkah trusted and respected him as well. They used
to keep their valuables with him and they used to call him Al-Alim meaning
the trustworthy.
He used to retire into a cave at Mt. Hira for seclusion on a yearly basis
and he never participated in paganism that was rampant in Mekkah at that
time. In the month of Ramadan, 610 A.D, angel Gabriel revealed the first
revelation to him while in the cave. "Proclaim! (or Read!) in the name of
thy Lord and Cherisher Who created. Created man out of a (mere) clot of
congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful. He Who taught
(the use of) the Pen. Taught man that which he knew not. " Q96:1-5. He
was scared and ran out of the cave to his house and ordered his wife to
cover him with cloth, but the revelation continued and that was the
beginning of his problem with his people who resisted change by all their
might.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) left Mekkah for Medina in the year 622 A.D where
he established Islamic state. He died in 632 A.D in Medina, some Muslims,
including Umar, the second Caliph, could not believe that the great man
and prophet of Allah could die. Aisha (RA) narrated that: Abu Bakr came
out and 'Umar was addressing the people, and Abu Bakr told him to sit down
but 'Umar refused. Abu Bakr again told him to sit down but 'Umar again
refused. Then Abu Bakr recited the Tashah-hud (i.e. none has the right to
be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Apostle) and the people
attended to Abu Bakr and left 'Umar. Abu Bakr said, "Amma ba'du, whoever
amongst you worshipped Muhammad, then Muhammad is dead, but whoever
worshipped Allah, Allah is alive and will never die. Allah says:."
Muhammad is no more than an Apostle: many were the Apostles that passed
away before him. If he died or were slain will you then turn back on your
heels? If any did turn back on his heels not the least harm will he do to
Allah; but Allah (on the other hand) will swiftly reward those who (serve
him) with gratitude. " Q3:144. (The narrator added, "By Allah, it was as
if the people never knew that Allah had revealed this verse before till
Abu Bakr recited it and then whoever heard it, started reciting it.").
(Bukhar 2.333).
That is the summary of the life of the holy prophet of Allah, Muhammad
(PBUH). He was the last of prophets of Allah, "Muhammad is not the father
of any of your men but he is the Apostle of Allah and the Seal of the
Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things." Q33:40. He was the
spiritual leader, head of state, commander of army, chief judge,
businessman, husband, father, e.t.c. He demonstrated good examples in all
aspects of life, Allah says: "You have indeed in the Apostle of Allah a
beautiful pattern of (conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the
Final Day and who engages much in the praise of Allah." Q 33:21. We all
have read and witnessed how power intoxicates people. The holy prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) had power yet he was not intoxicated by it.
Sincere non-Muslims could not help but commend the good leadership of the
holy prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Micheal H. Hart, in his book "The 100 : A
Ranking of the most Influential Persons in History" ranked the holy
prophet Muhammad as the most influential in history. Jules Masserman, a
psychoanalyst wrote: " Perhaps the greatest leader of all times was
Muhammad, who combined all three functions (provided for the well-being of
the lead, provided a social organization in which people feel relatively
secure and provided his people with one set of beliefs). To a lesser
degree, Moses did the same.
The holy prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The best talk (speech) is Allah's
Book (Qur'an), and the best way is the way of Muhammad, and the worst
matters are the heresies (those new things which are introduced into the
religion); and whatever you have been promised will surely come to pass,
and you cannot escape it. (Bukhari 9.382). There is no evidence that the
holy prophet and the four rightly guided Caliphs celebrated the birthday
of prophet Muhammad (PBUH). What we read is that the holy prophet used to
fast on his birthday. We should read more about the life of the prophet
and emulate him in our affairs rather than merry-making.
In Islam, there are only two festivals namely Idil-Fitr and Idil-Adha.
These are the festival at the end of Ramadan fasting and the festival in
the month of Dhul-Hajj that involves slaughtering of ram. These are not
mere festivals but have something to do with Islamic faith and whoever
participates in them, according to the dictates of prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), will be rewarded by Allah. Allah, the Exalted, says: "It is not
fitting for a Believer man or woman when a matter has been decided by
Allah and His Apostle to have any option about their decision: if anyone
disobeys Allah and His Apostle he is indeed on a clearly wrong Path."
Q33:36.
May the peace and blessings of Allah be on the holy prophet, Muhammad
(PBUH), his household, companions and followers of the right guidance till
the Day of Judgement. May Allah have mercy on Nigeria and us, may He let
us know good things and give us the strength to do them, may He let us
know evil and give us the strength to resist it.
Peace be with you.
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