Mir Imtiyaz Aafreen
If we look at the history of the world, we see a galaxy of great personalities, but no personality looks perfectly comprehensive in all respects. In some personalities we find the worldly aura but they lack the spiritual aspect, in some we find the dominance of monastic traits but they don’t have an experience of practical family life. Some resort to the display of political and military power but lack the capacities of proving amnesty to their subjects. Some resort to maintaining aristocratic standards of life but at the same time lack the qualities of giving proper respect to the poor of the society. In this galaxy of the greats, there is only one person who possesses a comprehensive and balanced personality and is a model of perfection for whole humanity and that is Prophet Muhammad (SAW). He has been sent as a role model for all ages. Allah mentions in the Holy Quran:
“In truth, in Allah’s Messenger, there is for you a most perfect and beautiful model.”
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was born in the full light of history and his example has been perfectly preserved in history. Although fourteen centuries have passed, we know about his life in detail, the personal, social, spiritual, political and economic aspects of his life are before our eyes.
His unparalleled character encompasses an infinite range of great human qualities like mercy, compassion, generosity, courage, justice, truthfulness, honesty, foresight, sincerity, patience, perseverance, love, self-sacrifice, sense of responsibility, humility, submission to God, and self-control etc.
We have a practical example of every aspect of human life in the Prophetic model. His life should not be taken just like the life of a great man but it is a life-standard and a beacon of light for the people of all ages. The more man makes advancements in different fields, the more will he need guidance from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Karen Armstrong writes:
“The glorious life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) shows that one person can change the whole world forever and can brighten the lives of the people by reviving the old traditions in a new way.”
Recognizing the incomparable personality of the Prophet (SAW), the noted French writer La Martine says,
“If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad”
In the person of the Prophet (SAW), we see at the same time a king who has the whole country in his hands but is so humble that he sits and eats with his slaves without any hesitation. He desists from the display of power and declares glory and sovereignty to just one God. He’s so rich that there are massive treasures loaded under his control but he is so frugal that he just takes a stale bread as his food and lives his entire life in austerity. Bosworth Smith rightly says,
“He was …without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue. If ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by a right divine, it was Mohammad, for he had all the power without instruments and without its support. He cared not for dressing of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life.”
He’s the commander-in-chief of a brave and pious army and leads from the front in all the battles but at the same time never sheds blood with his own hands and always shows his readiness to involve his opponents in reconciliation and peace. The peace treaty of Hudaybiyah, constitution of a pluralistic state in Madinah, the conquest of Makkah etc are examples of his efforts for the establishment of peace. M K Gandhi acknowledging the greatness of character shown by the Prophet of Islam (SAW) in the times of war and peace writes,
“My it was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to these friends and follower, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle.”
He never took revenge on those who hurt him and banished him from Makkah but gave them a chance to reform themselves. During the day he fights like a brave military commander, but at night is seen shedding tears in the remembrance of God.
Prof. K.S Ramakrishna Rao writes,
“Circumstances changed, but the prophet of God did not. In victory or in defeat, in power or in adversity, in affluence or in indigence, he is the same man, disclosed the same character.”
In the life of the Prophet (SAW), we find relevance to almost every human condition. The life of the Prophet (SAW) always guides us that if you are poor, look at the condition of the prisoner of Shaab Abi Talib (a narrow pass in Makkah), if you are a king, look at the humble ruler of Arabia, if you are defeated, then learn a lesson from the battle of Uhud, if you are a teacher, look at the teacher of the school of Suffa (a raised platform in the mosque of the Prophet), if you are a student, look at the disciple sitting in front of Angel Jibreel, if you are a preacher, look at the compassionate preacher of Islam in Taif, Makkah and Madinah, if you are a conqueror, look at the magnanimous attitude of the conqueror of Makkah, if you are a businessman, look at the one who traded in Syria, if you are an orphan, look at the son of Abdullah and Amina, if you are a child, look at his childhood in the household of Halima, if you are young, look at ‘the truthful’ and ‘the trustworthy’ young man of Makkah, if you are a judge, look at his impartial judgements in Madinah, if you are a husband, look at the benevolent husband of Ayesha (RA), if you are a father, look at the caring father of Fatima (RA) …in short, whoever you are and in whatever situation you are, in the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) there is the best example for you.
In the Holy Quran Prophet Muhammad (SAW) has been described as the messenger of Mercy:
“ And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.” (21:107)
We can take many incidents from his blessed life which show how merciful and forgiving he was. The Prophet’s daughter, Zaynab (RA) fell off a camel and suffered a miscarriage because of a man named Habbar who was trying to prevent her from migrating towards Madinah. Many years later, the man came to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the Prophet forgave him and he accepted Islam.
The son of Abu Jahl waged war against the Prophet (SAW) for two decades. Later he repented and the Prophet (SAW) forgave him.
Uthman ibn Talha would prevent the Prophet (SAW) for entering the Ka’bah. When the Prophet (SAW) conquered Makkah and got the authority, he forgave him and gave him and his family the keys for the Ka’bah until the end of time; and he accepted Islam.
Fadala came to assassinate the Prophet (SAW) whilst he was making ‘Tawaf’ and the Prophet (SAW) placed his hand on his chest with compassion, forgave him, and he accepted Islam.
Wahshi killed the Prophet’s beloved uncle Hamza. He came years later, repented and the Prophet (SAW) forgave him as well.
After the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet (SAW) proclaimed general amnesty to the people who had persecuted and tortured him and his followers. There was no exhibition of ruthless power and no feelings of revenge. He had to fight many wars but he is credited to have brought the wars under the ambit of human rights. He desisted from using brutal force in the battlefield, gave protection to non-combatants, ordered kindly treatment of captives and even instructed his companions to protect crops and trees of their opponents.
Today when God and religion have been forgotten, basic human rights are violated, wars and conflicts have consumed millions of people throughout the world and injustice and oppression are prevalent in almost every society, we need guidance from Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The author can be reached at imtiyazaafreen@gmail.com
