Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Prophet Muhammad's Last Sermon on Mount of Mercy

‘O Lord, guide my people, for they do not know.’ Prophet Muhammad Prophet Muhammad—the great physician of the heart is back in this book with a link to the right to cure the disease of violence inside the hearts of the Muslims. As the revered theologian of almost nine centuries ago, Al-Ghazali, who said: ‘For God most high has promised to revive his religion of peace at the beginning of each century.’ Prophet’s sermon on Mount Arafat after hajj: “My beloved friends, listen to my words, because I don’t know if I will ever be with you here again after this year. Therefore listen to what I am saying, carefully, and take these words to those who could not be here today. My friends and family, your lives, property and honor are sacred for you until you appear before your Lord, just as you consider this month, this day and this city sacred. Return the things that are entrusted to you to their rightful owners. You will meet your Lord, and He will hold you answerable for your actions. You have rights over your wives, and your wives have rights over you. Treat your wives with love and kindness. Verily, you have taken them on the security of God, and their persons are made lawful unto you by the words of God. Free your slaves, following my example, and tell others to do the same. But if they wish to stay with you, see that you feed them with such food as you eat yourselves, and clothe them with the stuff you wear. And if they commit a fault which you are not inclined to forgive, then part from them, for they are the servants of God as you and me, and are not to be treated harshly. Know that we are all equal in the sight of Allah, and journey together in this world as a family of brotherhood and sisterhood. All of us belong to the line of Adam, and Adam was created from dust. This is a gift of knowledge for all who cultivate wisdom and humility. An Arab is no better than a non-Arab, nor is a white better than a black, or a black better than a white, except in piety. Nothing is allowed to a Muslim if it belongs to another, unless it is given freely and willingly, so do not oppress each other. I am leaving behind me two things, the Book of God and my example, if you follow these two, you will never go astray. Spend freely of what is given to you, whether in prosperity or in adversity. Restrain you anger and pardon all, for Allah loves those who do good, as it has been revealed. This Hajj is acceptable to Allah, only if we have love in our hearts for each and every one of God’s creatures. Kill not your children. For fear of want. We shall provide sustenance for them. As well as for you. Verily, the killing of them is a great sin. Quran 17: 31. This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion Al-Islam. Whoso is forced by hunger, not by will, to sin; for him, lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. Quran 5: 3.” Prophet Muhammad recited, his eyes shining with mirth. “Know you that what month is this? What territory this is? What day?” “The sacred month! The sacred territory! The great day of pilgrimage—” Several voices spluttered forth, filling the Mount of Mercy with the music of joy. “Even thus sacred and inviolable God made His life and the property of each of you unto the other, until you meet your Lord.” Prophet Muhammad’s voice rippled above all, his arms held out. “O Lord! I have delivered my message and accomplished my work!” “Yes, you have, Prophet. Yes, you have—” The pilgrims cheered. “O God, I beseech Thee, bear Thou witness unto it.” Prophet Muhammad prayed. “This is the day of true brotherhood and sisterhood, of devotion and repentance. This is the day when Allah is revealed to His servants, extending His Hands with generosity and immense blessing! We are promised that during these hours by Arafat, Allah will send down His mercy and forgiveness to those, who are deserving and they will feel His presence!” ‘The heart of the believer is between two fingers of the Infinitely Merciful.’ Prophet Muhammad

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Prophet Muhammad/Sharia/Islam

Islamic Sharia And we have not sent thee but as a mercy to the nations. Quran 21:107 Since Muslims have distorted the message of Prophet Muhammad so magnanimously, historians and theologians need to scrape clean the windows of unIslamic Sharia to have a glimpse of Prophet’s Sharia. The publication of Prophet’s book with a link to the right is an attempt to do just that. All windows scrubbed clean of countless distortions and misconceptions. Reflecting the original portrait of Islam as painted by the Prophet in synchronicity with his character as a loving, forgiving, compassionate Prophet of Peace. No valid definition of Sharia exists even to this age and day and a potpourri of those which are being tossed around are countless, concocted by clerics, historians and theologians. Such definitions written and rewritten by so-called scholars several years after the death of Prophet Muhammad with interpretations to suit their own ways of thinking, permitting no room for the proof of validity, criticism or discussion. Origin of Sharia, even the most orthodox of theologians would agree is based on traditions gathered from the sayings and lifestyle of the Prophet and from the wealth of revelations compiled as the holy book of Quran,. Starting with Sunna—exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad, if Muslims were to follow in his footsteps, there would be left not even a trace of cruelty, hatred, bigotry or violence in Islam. Hoping that reason as Prophet Muhammad claimed reason the most precious of God-given gifts would tempt theologians to open a dialogue with a string of discussions in the very ether of cyberspace, if not in the arena of global syllogisms. Prophet’s Sharia, before it was hijacked by scholars turned bigots and zealots was in all its purity the law of love, peace and harmony. He lived this law by the example of his life as a loving, compassionate and forgiving man of words and deeds. By interpreting revelations in such a profound manner so as to polish the precepts of Islam with the gold of love, tolerance and harmony. As it is stated in this revelation below. He it is who hath revealed unto thee Muhammad the Scripture wherein are clear revelations. They are the substance of the Book—and others which are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical, seeking to cause dissention by seeking to explain it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound instruction say: we believe therein, the whole is from our Lord, but only men of understanding really heed. Quran 3:7 And Prophet of course had to deal with the zeal of his followers at the very inception of Islam. One day Prophet was sitting in the mosque in Medina when Abdullah the son of Abdallah ibn Ubbay came suddenly to share the news of his father’s death and his last request before he died that Prophet give his shirt as a burial shroud and to come and pray at his funeral. The Prophet got to his feet to fulfil the last wishes of Abdallah ibn Ubbay, but his followers started protesting, knowing the deceased to be marked as hypocrite during his lifetime. Saying, how could he—the Prophet agree to grant the last requests of Abdullah’s father against the weight of the recent revelation? Ask forgiveness for them O Muhammad or ask not forgiveness for them. Though thou ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will not forgive them. That is because they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger, and Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. Quran 9:80 The Prophet turned to his heels, commenting over his shoulders. “I have to pray more than seventy times then, don’t I?” One revelation which was dear to his heart: Keep to forgiveness O Muhammad and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant. Quran 7:199 Prophet’s forgiveness was unconditional and his love boundless. After the conquest of Mecca he forgave everyone, even Hind the wife of Abu Sofyan who had chewed on the heart of his slain uncle Hamza. When Abu Sofyan wished to accept Islam, Prophet said that if he was willing to accept if for fear that he would be punished if he did not, then he should not be willing. For no punishment was forthcoming and that he should wait till he could accept it without fear and with all his heart. Prophet’s own love extended to all God’s creatures. Once during a sermon a cat took the liberty of sitting over the edge of his robe and he wouldn’t get up lest he disturb the cat. At the time of his final pilgrimage to Mecca, he noticed a bitch on the road with a litter of pups and commanded his men to change their route so as not to frighten the young pups. He abhorred war and succumbed to its dictates only as a last resort after all efforts at peace were exhausted. The Peace Treaty which the Prophet signed under the Lote Tree lent so much advantage to the pagans that his own followers were angry and resentful. But he stayed firm, guided by his wisdom and by the wealth of revelations. His favorite expression: ‘No person has drunk a better draught than that of anger which he has swallowed for God’s sake.’ And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it, and trust in Allah. Lo, He is the Hearer, the Knower. Quran 8:61 Again and again the Prophet had to guide even his loved ones on the path to compassion and tolerance. Once Omar dragged a man away from the precincts of the mosque when he saw him urinating by the wall. Later, Omar told the Prophet that the man had defiled the mosque so he had thrown him out. The Prophet reprimanded Omar, saying that since he treated the man roughly he must find him and apologize, adding that a pail of water would have purified the spot. Living amidst countless tides of zeal and intolerance, the Prophet was heard exclaiming: ‘By these pious fools my back hath been broken.’ To the very end of his life the Prophet strove toward cultivating the seeds of love, peace and harmony. He had forbidden the use of weapons before journeying from Medina to Mecca, he and his followers going there as pilgrims, not as warriors. As he and his cavalcade approached closer to Mecca, Saeed bin Udabah began brandishing his sword and exclaiming: ‘Today is the day of fighting.’ Prophet was quick to snatch the sword from him and hand it over to his son, Abu Qays. Reproof spilling down from his lips: ‘This is how you distort the message of the Prophet, O Saeed?’ Lo who distort our revelations are not hid from us. It is he who is hurled into the fire better or he who cometh secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do what you will. Lo, He is seer of what you do. Quran 41:40 After the conquest of Mecca, quite a few reprimands landed on Ali since he was the closest and most beloved. The Prophet was talking to Othman ibn Talha when Ali snatched keys of Kaaba from him, saying: ‘These keys now belong to the Prophet of Islam.’ ‘Ali, be kind and loving and return those keys to Othman.’ Prophet Muhammad commanded swiftly and sadly. ‘Have I failed in my message of equal love and equal respect for all? He is not one of us who incites bigotry, or fights for bigotry or dies in its pursuit.’ Another scene of discord ensued soon after when Prophet’s wives were urging Ali’s sister Umm Hani not to seek protection for her husband Hudayfah who was an idolater. Ali was amongst them, threatening to kill his sister and her husband when Prophet appeared on this scene of contention. ‘I seek protection for my husband.’ Umm Hani flung her cloak over the shoulders of her husband and ran to the Prophet, and was received into his loving arms, sobbing uncontrollably. ‘Whom you make safe, dear Umm Hani, him we make safe. Whom you protect, we protect.’ Prophet Muhammad turned to Ali. ‘Have you not been reprimanded for your zeal already?’ Another revelation close to Prophet’s heart: O ye who believe! Be steadfast witness for Allah in equity, and let not the hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not justly. Deal justly that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty to Allah. Lo, Allah is informed of what you do. Quran 5:8 In polygamous society when Arab men had several wives and concubines, Prophet Muhammad remained faithful to Khadija alone for almost twenty-five years of blissful marriage. After her death he contracted more marriages with women who were widows and needed protection, with the exception of only one, Aisha. The description of Prophet’s character by Aisha in one of the Hadiths: ‘He laughed a lot and never held a grudge against anyone.’ And if you fear you will not deal fairly by the orphans, marry of the women who seem good to you, two, three or four. And if you fear you cannot do justice to so many, then one only or the captives that your right hand possesses. Thus it is more likely that you will not do injustice. Quran 4:3 After the conquest of Mecca: He said: Have no fear this day! May Allah forgive you and He is the most merciful of those who show mercy. Quran 12:92 to be continued—