INTRODUCTION
The most important Message in this world
The first thing that Allaah Ta’alah has taught us is ‘la ilaha illal laah (there is no divinity, except Allaah). Here the first thing that Allaah Ta’alah has shown us is that we should not commit ‘shirk’. We should pray to and worship Allaah Ta’alah alone who has Power over all things (That is He is the Omnipotent). Hence the first thing that Allaah Ta’alah has taught Mankind here is ‘the subject of Tawheed’ (the doctrine of the belief in the Oneness of Allaah Ta’alah as the only God )
Secondly , Allaah Ta’alah has sent around 124 000 prophets (peace be upon them all) to mankind and He has ordered all of them to explain to us this subject of ‘Tawheed’ (monotheism).
Thirdly , He has sent down Books to prove this subject about ‘Tawheed’.
Fourthly , everything in nature whether it is a mountain or a flower or a river or a tree or a bird etc…all of them prove ‘Tawheed’.
A most wrongly known message
Whenever the topic ‘The subject of Tawheed’ is explained to people, they find it quite strange. And yet these people are Muslims who read ‘swalaats’, fast, give ‘zakaat’ and so on. But when this topic is addressed to them they feel disturbed and irritated. Talking about it with them is like playing with fire because problems can arise. Hence we see that there are people, in spite of being religious and having ‘taqwa’, refrain from talking about ‘The subject of Tawheed’ They argue that talking about this topic brings dispute among people. And therefore they reckon that we should rather talk about another topic that will not bring such dispute. Others say that ‘The subject of Tawheed’ should not be talked about in the ‘masjids’ (mosques) but other subjects as wudhu, ghusl, swalaats…etcetera that should be talked about,so that not to create dispute and dissension. If we explain ‘the subject of Wudhu’ to a person, then he will be able to perform his ‘wudhu’ much better. To know the ‘subject of Zakaat’ he must learn about ‘zakaat’. The logical point here is that if someone learns the subject of ‘wudhu’, then his ‘subject of Zakaat’ will not become better. That’s because ‘wudhu’ and ‘zakaat’ are two different subjects. So, how is it possible that if a person does not learn the subject of Tawheed will have his Tawheed become right or improve it? This is impossible, right?
The Main Message of the holy Qur’an
From the first Prophet Adam (Alaihis salaam) to the last Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) Allaah has communicated to mankind through many prophets throughout different eras to guide man and protect him.
‘We said, “Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.” ( al- Baqara, verse 38)
The main message of Allaah Ta’alah to all the prophets and throughout all His books is: ‘do not associate anything or anyone with Allaah Ta’alah, worship only Allaah Ta’alah and ask for help only from Him.
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam)
“Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allaah and seal (i.e. last) of the prophets. And ever is Allaah, of all things, Knowing.” (Surah 33 al-Ahzaab, verse 40)
The Messenger of Allaah Ta’alah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) is the Last Prophet of all prophets. There will be no other prophets after him. Whoever claims himself as prophet after him is a liar and an imposter.
Of all mankind the prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) is the best and most honourable. And he is the beloved of the Master of the universe. Allaah Ta’alah has sent His Messenger Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) to mankind and the jinn with Truth, Guidance and Light.
“And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people not know.” (Surah 34 Saba, verse 28)
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) taught us that it is only Allaah Ta’alah who possess Knowledge of the unseen
The word ‘unseen’ in the holy Qur’an is used to refer to hidden things that people do not know and cannot see. For example, what will happen in the future is something that is hidden from us. It is only Allaah who knows this.
Say, “None in the heavens and the earth knows the unseen except Allaah,…” (Surah 27 an-Naml, verse 65)
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) taught us that it is only Allaah Ta’alah who is all-powerful (Omnipotent)
The prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) has taught us that Allaah Ta’alah is All-Powerful (Omnipotent). Our prophet spent hard days and nights striving hard to make people understand and recognise that Allaah Ta’alah has power over all things. He did this to make them change their mind-set about Allaah Ta’alah so that once they recognise His power they would fear and love Him (i.e. Allaah).
“And you will not cause failure [to Allaah] upon the earth or in the heaven. And you have not other than Allaah any protector or any helper.’ (Surah 29 al-Ankabut, verse 22)
In the time of the prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam), the non-believers believed in Allaah and in His existence – but they refuse to recognise His Power which they did not appreciate.
They also used to do certain ‘ibaadah’ (prayers) which Allaah did not accept from them but condemned them to the hellfire.
When the Messenger of Allaah showed them that it is Allaah who has power over all things that it is He alone who is worthy of worship, they denied it and said that Allaah’s Messenger (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) was a mad, a mad poet and so on.
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) has warned against idol-worship
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) has shown to us that the worst act a person can commit is to associate partners with Allaah Ta’alah. This is called ‘shirk’. Allaah’s Messenger (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) has also shown us that Allaah is the only God and that no one is equal to Him in Power.
“Indeed, association with Allaah is great injustice.” (Surah 31 Luqman, verse 13)
“Indeed, Allaah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allaah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.” (Surah 4 an-Nisaa, verse 48)
A model for mankind
The Messenger of Allaah , Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) is a perfect model for mankind. As Messenger or Prophet – orator, father, husband, neighbour, businessman, reformer, protector of the weak, judge, statesman, and practically in all spheres of life he (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) was a perfect example.
1435 years ago the Allaah’s Messenger Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) established a social security system for the poor. In Islaam it is incumbent upon the rich to help the poor.
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) has preached the Oneness of Allaah Ta’alah to liberate people from the fear of other imaginary divinities which they themselves have fabricated, which are the root cause of all kinds of confusion that humans are suffering from.
Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) The Prophet of Peace and Harmony
There is a ‘duah’ (supplication) that the Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) has taught us to say after reading every swalaat five times a day.
Allaahoumma antas salaam wa minkas salaam tabaarakta yaa zaljalaali wal ikraam.
Translation : “O Allaah, You are the source of Peace and from You peace comes, exalted You are, O Lord of Majesty and Honour. (Muslim)
The objective of the Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) was to attain and establish peace and justice which he preached. So, when he moved to Madinah he (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) established a sanctuary there and laid great emphasis on peace and justice so much so that it was prohibited to either hunt or slaughter any animal except for food; not even a tree was allowed to be cut down.
For 13 years the Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) faced bitter opposition from the unbelievers while he preached in Makkah. When it became unbearably difficult for him (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) to stay in Makkah, he moved to Madinah. People who opposed him organised wars against him but he showed that the power of peace was stronger than that of war. One such example was the treaty of al-Hudaybiyyah that he (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) concluded with the people of Makkah (the Quraish). We see in this treaty that he (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) accepted all the demands of the opposing people of Quraysh on just one condition that peace should reign.
After making victory over the Makkans the Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) marched peacefully into Makkah with his 10,000 followers. He (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) was clearly more powerful than the Makkans now, but never took any revenge on them for the 13 years of sorrow and cruel scorn he suffered at their hands. Instead, he (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) forgave them and yet they were his most dangerous enemies. He addressed all the people of Makkah and said: ‘Today there is no blame on you, you are free to go.’ Such was the amnesty he gave them.
Suddenly, there was a change in Makkah. There were no prisoners or people who got defeated. It suddenly occurred that the people of Makkah over whom victory was made became equal with those who made victory over them.
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) returned to Madinah after a few days. But he (sal lal laahu alai wa sal lam) did not leave any of his soldiers behind in Makkah. He (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) appointed an inhabitant of Makkah to become the governor of Makkah.
Equality and Fraternity
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) showed such kind of equality and fraternity to mankind that is still applicable in the present context of our modern life. For example, a king and a labourer will stand shoulder to shoulder, sit next to each other and glorify Allaah by saying ‘Allaahu akbar’ together in their swalaat.
A kind of fraternity never seen before
The sahabas (companions of the prophet Muhammad – sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) who did the ‘hijra’ (travel) from Makkah to Madinah were called Mujahir. They were those who left their homes, business and families behind for the sake of Allaah Ta’alah. However, those sahabas who dwelled in Medinah were called the Ansars (meaning those who helped).
Nabi (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) established a fraternal love and relationship between the Mujahir and the Ansars, between two different tribes. This fraternity was so strong that the ansars would give all their support, help and assistance in whatever way they could to assist the mujahir.
One such example, was Bilal (radhi Allaahu anhu). He was an ex-slave black African, a mujahir and had a strong fraternal relationship with Rawaha (radhi Allaahu anhu) who was an Arab. There has never been such an example in history again. This fraternity has nothing to do with parental love, race, colour or language, but it was purely based on ‘Imaan’ (belief and conviction in Allaah).
The best of mankind
Abu Sufyan who greatly opposed the prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) before he became a Muslim admitted in front of Heraclius (The Roman king) that the prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) was a virtuous man full of noble qualities.
The Jews themselves used to consult the Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) to sort out their disputes because they knew he was full of honesty and justice. The Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) was also known as Al-Ameen (the trustworthy) and As-Sadiq (the truthful).
100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History is a 1978 book by Michael H Hart. In this book, he made a list of 100 persons who most influenced the history of mankind. Among the 100 persons he chose the Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) as the top over all of them. He came to this choice after a thorough and careful analysis and study of all these influential people.
There is no doubt that choosing the Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) to be the top among the list of those 100 persons is surely the right choice. It is a fact that his (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) personal and public life has been preserved and was never clouded in mysteries or in darkness. His life is laid open and clear for every individual to see, study and analyse.
Generous and kind to animals
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) did not just teach people to be kind and generous towards each other but he (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) taught us to be also generous towards all living creatures.
He (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) said: ‘Fear Allaah for the way we treat animals.’
There are many events whereof the Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) has stressed that we should treat animals such as camels, birds, dogs, horses kindly and that we should not harm them.
The Messenger (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam)
Predictions
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) has given hundreds and hundreds of information (indications) of what would happen in both the near and the far-away future.
An example of an information about a near future event
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) said: ‘Oh my people! Very soon you will conquer Egypt. Take care of the people over whom you have made victory. They must follow Allaah’s commandments so that their life and honour is protected.
At that time Egypt was under the rule of Byzantine who had such great power that the Muslims were far away to attain such an equal in power. But as seen, the words of the Prophet Muhammad (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) turned out to be true in the reign of Umar (radhi Allaahu anhu), as it so happened that the Muslims triumphed over and conquered Egypt.
An example of an information about a far-away future event
The Messenger of Allaah (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) gave us lots of details about many events that would happen before the Day of Judgment. Now, 1435 years later, we see these events that he (sal lal laahu alaihi wa sal lam) predicted, are taking place one by one.