Muhammad: The Seal of the Prophets A mercy to mankind

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Muhammad The Seal of the ProphetsA mercy to
mankind
Towards Understanding Islam Muslims

• Compiled by

Amgad Saleh
afsultan_at_yahoo.om
2003-2004
AhmadSultan.com
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Greetings of Islam

• A-Salamu Alaikom
• Peace be unto you
• Wa Alaikom A-Salam
• and unto you be peace

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Outline

• The Last Messenger to Mankind
• Muhammads Message
• Muhammads Character
• Muhammads Approach (selective aspects)
• Conclusions

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The Last Messenger to Mankind Muhammad Peace Be
Upon Him (PBUH)

• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was sent to all mankind
  by the one God who sent Abraham, Moses, Jesus,
  and all prophets
• We have not sent you but as a universal
  messenger to all people, giving them glad
  tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most
  people do not understand (Ouran 3428)
• And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said O
  Children of Israel! Im the messenger of Allah
  (God) sent to you confirming the law which came
  before me (Torah) and giving glad tidings of a
  messenger to come after me, whose name shall be
  Ahmad (Muhammad) (Ouran 616)
• My example and the prophets who came before me
  is like a man built a very nice house with one
  brick missing, so people would say except if this
  brick is there. So Im the missing brick and Im
  the Seal of the prophets (Sahih Bukhari)

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The Prophets
Muhammad
600 Years
Jesus
John
Zechariah
Elisah
Elijah
Solomon
Jonah
David
Naturalized Arabs
Aaron
Moses
Shuaib
Tribes
Ezekiel
Joseph
Job
Jacob
Isaac
Ishmael
Abraham
Lot
Saleh
Non-Arabian side of the Semites
Original Arabs
Hud
Extinct Arabs

• All Prophets and their followers throughout
  history is one nation under one God
• Muslims make no difference between one and
  another of the prophets

Sam
Arabian side of the Semites (Original, Extinct,
and Naturalized)
Yapheth
Noah
Ham
The Flood
Idris
Other Prophets mentioned in Quran
Adam
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Muhammads Message Submission

• Say Verily, my Lord has guided me to a way that
  is straight A religion of right The path
  (trod) by Abraham, the true in faith and he
  (certainly) joined not gods with Allah
• (Ouran 6161)

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Muhammads MessageA way of Life based on
Contemplation and Understanding

• Didnt you see that Allah sends down rain from
  the sky? With it We then bring out produce of
  different colors. And the mountains are tracts
  white and red, of various shades of color, and
  black intense in hue. And so amongst men and
  crawling creatures and cattle, are they of
  various colors. Those truly fear Allah among his
  servants, who have knowledge. For Allah is the
  Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving (Ouran
  3527-28)
• The followers of the prophets have accepted
  their messages as they witnessed the miracles
  they have shown. In my case, I was given a
  revelation to be recited (read, thought and
  understood) (Sahih Bukhari)

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Muhammads CharacterA testimony by the Creator

• Exemplary Character
• And you stand on an exalted standard of
  character (Ouran 684)
• Now has come unto you a messenger from amongst
  yourselves it grieves him that you should
  perish Ardently anxious is he over you to the
  believers is he most kind and merciful (Ouran
  9128)
• It is part of the mercy of Allah (God) that you
  did deal gently with them. Were you severe or
  harsh-hearted they would have broken away from
  around you. So pass over (their faults), and ask
  for Allahs forgiveness for them, and consult
  with them in affairs of the moment. Then when you
  has taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.
  For Allah loves those who put their trust in Him
  (Ouran 3159)

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Muhammads Character (2)A testimony by the
Creator

• Combined the best in all prophets characters
• Those were the (prophets) who received Allahs
  Guidance Copy the guidance they received
  (Ouran 690)
• Piety and Youth (Joseph)
• Firmness and Strength (Mosis)
• Patience and Mercy (Abraham) ? Muhammad
• Nobleness and Peace (Jesus)
• Patience and Taking account in God (Job)

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Muhammad The Great LeaderTestimonies by Notable
Non-Muslims

• Michael H. Hart (1978)
• My Choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the
  World's most influential persons may surprise
  some readers and may be questioned by others, but
  he was the only man in history who was supremely
  successful on both the religious and secular
  level"
• The 100 A Ranking of the Most Influential
  Persons in History", New York Hart Publishing
  Company, Inc., 1978, p.33.
• George Bernard Shaw(1935)
• "I believe that if a man like him were to
  assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he
  would succeed in solving the problems in a way
  that would bring the much needed peace and
  happiness. Europe is beginning to be enamored of
  the creed of Muhammad. In the next century it may
  go further in recognizing the utility of that
  creed in solving its problems"

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Muhammad The Great Leader (2) Testimonies by
Notable Non-Muslims

• Lamartine (1855)
• If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and
  astounding results are the three criteria of
  human genius, who could claim to compare any
  great man in modern history with Muhammad?"
• Gandhi(1922)
• I become more than ever convinced that it was
  not the sword that won a place for Islam in those
  days. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter
  self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous
  regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his
  friends and followers and 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"

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Rationale, Lenient, Not-violent Muhammads
Approach

• Patience when dealing with people
• Rationale in actions
• Changing peoples mind by persuasion
• The same idols worshipers are the one who
  destroyed them

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Love To People and Their GuidanceMuhammads
Approach

• After the battle of Uhud where he was injured
  and lots of Muslims were killed, he prayed for
  the Maccan guidance
• Oh Allah (God) give guidance to my people,
  they lack knowledge

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Recognizing peoples shortcomingsMuhammads
Approach

• A man came to him admitting being drunk
  requesting to be punished
• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked the man to wait
  after the prayer
• After the prayer the man re-requested to be
  punished. The prophet recognized his repentance
  and answered Did you not pray with us? and sent
  him away.

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Balanced Emotions Muhammads Approach

• Softness
• Asking a young boy about his sick little bird
  Abul-omair (the boys name) how did Al-Noghair
  (the bird) do
• Seriousness and Toughness
• If Fatima the daughter of Muhammad did steel,
  Muhammad would apply the the law of God on her
  (Sahih Bukhari)

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InsightfulMuhammads Approach

• Peace agreement with Maccan (Al-Hudaibiah Treaty)
  by showing the Muslims intension to perform
  Umrah (subset of Pilgrimage)
• Avoid fighting during the conquest of Macca by
  recognizing a prominent Maccan leader social
  status
• Whoever enters his house is safe, whoever enters
  the Kabbah is safe, and whoever enters
  Abu-Sufians house is safe

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ForbearingMuhammads Approach

• Listening to people and restraining himself when
  subject to harsh words and accusations from
  others
• Oh Muhammad give me (money) from what God has
  given you, it is not yours nor your fathers

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Humbleness and Politeness Muhammads Approach

• Towards God
• When asked why you stand all night praying while
  God has forgiven your sins, he answered Should
  not I be a thankful servant
• Towards People
• Going out with his companions, he would choose
  the most un-desirable task to perform by the
  group such as finding and collecting wood that
  can be used to lit the fire for cooking

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Communication and InformationMuhammads Approach

• Dealing with Misinformation
• He worked very hard to communicate and educate
  the misinformed communities about his message

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Team Building and Consultation Muhammads
Approach

• He always consulted his companions and made
  decisions based on consensus
• During the battle of the Ditch, he followed the
  consensus of his companions to continue in the
  battle and not to make any compromise in order to
  relief them

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Non - ConfrontationalMuhammads Approach

• He avoided confronting individuals who came to
  him and foolishly tried to confront him
• Oh Muhammad give me (money) from what God has
  given you, it is not yours nor your fathers

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Scope and PrioritiesMuhammads Approach

• In Macca (immoral society)
• Explaining the right and wrong
• Addressing keys to the highest level of human
  manners
• In Madina (new Muslim society)
• Emphasizing the importance of family relations
  and values
• Strengthen social ties
• Stressing on unity and diversity
• Building economy
• Building relationship with other communities
  (Treaties)

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Integrating a diverse SocietyMuhammads Approach

• Integrating and establishing unity in a society
  (Madina) that was diverse in both conviction and
  traditions
• Unity between the Aws and Khazraj two long
  time rival tribes in Madina
• Building relations with the Jewish tribes
• Establishing political and economical systems in
  Madina
• Establishing relations and treaties with the
  surrounding communities

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Conclusion

• Muhammad (PBUH) was sent to all mankind by the
  one God who sent Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and all
  prophets
• An exalted standard of character that combined
  the best in all prophets characters

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Conclusion (2)

• Rationale approach that is lenient, not violent,
  and yet firm that demonstrated an exemplary
  leadership and human quality through
• Love To People and Recognizing theirs
  shortcomings
• Balanced emotions
• Forbearing and being Insightful
• Communication and Information
• Humbleness and Politeness
• Team Building and Consultation
• Scope, Priorities, and Integrating a diverse
  society

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References

• The Nobel Quran, Translations of the meanings
  by Yousef Ali, Picthal, and Shaker.
• http//www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/
• Sahih Bukhari, Prophet Muhammad Sayings.
• http//www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsun
  nah/bukhari/
• Fiqh-U-Seerah Understanding the Life of Prophet
  Muhammad (PBUH), by Muhammad Al-Ghazali
• The 100 A Ranking of the Most Influential
  Persons in History", New York Hart Publishing
  Company, Inc., 1978, by Michael Hart