Lessons for the 21st century

Prophet Muhammad

Izaaz Ahmed

(The author can be reached at: izaazahmed16@gmail.com)

The founders of all religions are unique and special in their own ways. Each of them may have had a different approach to their mission, but the underlying message of their most fundamental teachings was more or less the same. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon Him), revered by billions of Muslims worldwide, who consider him their last and final Prophet, brought the much needed succour and order to the 7th century Arabia marked with ‘Jahiliyyah’ or irascibility. Guided by God, who revealed his messages to his messenger piecemeal and in stages through Angel Gabriel, the Prophet, through his actions and deeds, has also left behind a multitude of simple yet profound messages for entire humanity, messages which are of utmost relevance even in the 21st century. His life itself is ingrained with lessons galore, a life in which he played multiple roles including that of a son, nephew, shepherd, trader, husband, father, messenger, companion, statesman, social reformer and arbitrator.

Forbearance and openness to change

The vast majority of the people of Mecca were initially not in favour of the new religion the Prophet was preaching. The new teachings would require the Quraysh (the most dominant tribe of Mecca) to give up on many of its excesses, to have their slaves eat next to them, to promote gender equality; and so, the Prophet and his small group of followers were subjected to the worst of humiliations and persecutions. Being a member of the Quraysh himself, one can well imagine the pangs of emotional pain he must have had undergone upon seeing his own people scheming to end his life. Fearing for the life of his followers, he had them surreptitiously sent to Yathrib, which was to be known as Medina later, and he too followed suit after some days. This period is known as Hijrah (emigration), and is a milestone in Islamic history. Now, the life in Medina was very different from that of Mecca, culturally, socially as well as religiously. Yet, by setting high examples, he showed that one should be able to be open up confidently to new cultures, and gain from their wealth, while remaining true to their own belief. Hence, upon learning that the Ansars (people of Medina who embraced Islam after the Prophet arrived there) were fond of music, the Prophet had two singing maids sent to an Ansar wedding. Similarly, women of Medina were relatively more vocal and given to expressing their views freely, and therefore, the Meccan Muslims were encouraged to welcome the change to their own individual families.

Supporter of plurality and diversity

Throughout his life, the Prophet had many non-Muslims around him, whom he respected, advised, and also sought help from. He formed relationships based on trust, moral values and merit, and not exclusively on the basis of a common religion. It was only a result of such outlook that once a group of persecuted Muslims was advised to emigrate to Abyssinia and take protection under a Christian king. Moreover, being an extremely honest trader, a quality which had earned him the title of Al Amin (trustworthy), non-Muslim traders continued depositing money with him even after he became a Prophet. Showing respect and listening to contrasting sets of belief was very integral to the teachings of the Prophet. This deep recognition of plurality became evident when a delegation of Christians from Yemen, which came to the Messenger to learn and question the new faith, refused to accept his message. The Prophet, nonetheless, not only allowed the Christian group to perform its own prayers inside the mosque in Medina, but, when requested, also sent an envoy named Abu Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah with them to judge some of their affairs. His dealings with the faithful of other religions were based on three conditions – learning contrasting views, staying sincere during the debates, and presenting his own point of view with humility.

Advocator of rights of the poor, oppressed and women

One can see his profound empathy for the downtrodden throughout his life. In fact, “Feed the poor” was one of the earliest instructions the Prophet gave. A matter that was very close to his heart, he strove hard to free the lowly and underprivileged from all feelings of inferiority, besides inspiring them to assert their dignity. Likewise, other than asking women to claim their rights, he paid close attention to their stories involving denial of rights, ill treatment and exclusion. For instance, several women used to come to him asking for divorce from their respective husbands for different reasons. The Prophet looked into the matter carefully, and had them separated. By granting women the Right of Inheritance in the light of a divine revelation, something that was beyond imagination during those times, his role as an emancipator of women got further manifested. Even as a father and a husband, he set lofty examples. He never hesitated to consult with the women related to him before taking any decision, and also encouraged them to ask questions. The Prophet was equally passionate about not just liberating the oppressed and slaves from the bondage of slavery and servitude, but whenever possible, also empowered them. Thus, son of Zayd, a former slave whom the Prophet later adopted, was appointed as the commander of an important expedition; and Bilal, a black as well as a former slave, was chosen to deliver the first call to prayer, or Azaan.

Nature lover

The Prophet, all his life, shared an intimate relationship with nature and its various manifestations. The Qur’an showed him the way, and enabled him to see the bounties of nature as a sign of God’s presence. Natural resources or living creatures, he never failed to show a high sense of admiration and respect for them. Giving a profound lesson on water conservation, he once told one of his companions named Sad ibn Abi Waqqas to make moderate use of water while doing ritual ablutions (washing of certain body parts before offering Namaaz) even if that water were of a running stream. Similarly, he once remarked, “If the hour of Judgment Day comes while one of you holds a sapling in his hand, let him hurry and plant it.” On another occasion, he expressed that a litter of roadside puppies be protected. Proving that respect for all living creatures, including animals, was part of the most essential Islamic teaching, he once answered to a companion’s question, “Any good done to a living creature gets a reward.” By carrying children on his shoulders to the Mosque, by playing with them, by cutting short his prayers upon hearing a child cry, the Prophet was trying to impress upon a lesson – being close to fellow humans is an act of worship.

Moderation, practicality and leadership

The Prophet taught his companions not to worship to excess. Responding to some of them such as Uthman ibn Mazun who wanted to pray all night long and fast continuously, he once said, “Do not do that! For your body has rights upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your guest has a right upon you.” To a guilt-stricken man who once came to him seeking a possible atonement, the Prophet asked to give away food in charity. When that man replied that he was too poor to do that and his family itself was hungry, the Messenger gave him a dish of food, and with an assuring smile, asked him to feed himself and his family instead. The Prophet never let his elevated status indirectly muzzle the voice of his companions. On the contrary, he always went an extra mile trying to inspire confidence in them to take initiative, to develop their own mental faculties and speak without any sense of submission or hesitation.

The Prophet belonged to all, transcending all kinds of barriers. Everyone who approached him with their problem or dispute was heard with undivided attention, and was in turn stunned by his humility, scrupulousness, reassurance and sense of judgment. When he extended his hand for greeting someone, he was never the one to withdraw it first. He always sported a smile, a smile which was like an oasis in a desert of anguish.