It is difficult to aptly describe someone who was both an ordinary man and a Messenger of God; who commanded spiritual and worldly authority like no one ever did; and who is loved by 1.8 billion inhabitants of the earth.
No doubt we are living in a time of great political and religious turmoil, a time in which fringe groups of Muslims and non-Muslims are pushing for a clash of civilizations. It is therefore imperative that the life story—the Seerah—of Muhammad (s) the Messenger of God be retold so Muslims can be reminded about his noble legacy and non-Muslims informed thereof.
One may ask, what is the need for another book on Seerah when so many by men of renown are available? A simple answer is that books on the Seerah of the Prophet have been written in every era in order to convey his message to the people of that time, in the vernacular of that time, and in a way that it can relate to the people of that time. Many of the Seerah books of the past have been academic in approach or have merely described what happened. This book aims to analyze the significance of these historical events and apply the lessons drawn from them in order to promote mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among all people.
In our time, the voices of extremism on both sides of the divide are winning. Extremist groups among Muslims are bent on fighting the disbelievers, and those in the opposite camp are portraying Islam as evil. Neither side shows any interest in a sincere, honest, and respectful dialogue. If voices of reason remain silent, the extremists and hate mongers on both sides will set the course of interhuman relations, and the world will continue to suffer from unnecessary misunderstanding and senseless violence.
The Prophet followed a path of moderation and mercy in all his affairs, having been sent by God, according to the Qur’an, as a “Mercy to the Worlds.” God called Muslims a “justly balanced nation” that should avoid all extremes. Therefore, extremism of any sort is antithetical to Islam, and many of the things that the extremist Muslims are doing in the name of Islam are the exact opposite of what the Messenger of Mercy preached and lived by. Historically Muslims and Christians enjoyed a peaceful and mutually beneficial coexistence, even offering one another help in times of need. For example, when the early believers faced persecution in Makkah (Mecca), the Christian King Negus offered them refuge in Abyssinia. The
Prophet Muhammad (s) advised the early group of Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia because Negus was a just ruler who would not persecute them for their belief. Thus these early Muslims enjoyed a period of peaceful refuge under the protection of a Christian king.
Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, and others could greatly benefit from understanding the wisdom behind God creating us to be different. Had we not looked different, spoken different languages, believed in different religions, how would we ever stand out? Out of their sincere convictions, people will continue to invite others to their own faiths, believing that theirs is the only true religion. And they should have the freedom to do so, without coercing or compelling others. However, in the end only God will judge them and tell them if they hit the goal or missed the mark. The Qur’an says:
To each of you We prescribed a law and a path. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation (united in religion), but He intended to test you in what He has given you; so race to all that is good. You will all return to Allah, Who will then inform you concerning that over which you differed.1
Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad (s) is the greatest in the long line of God’s prophets and messengers, which began with Adam and continued through Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus and culminated in Muhammad (s). There were thousands in between, although the Qur’an mentions only twenty-five of them by name, may God’s peace and blessings be upon them all! However, when a Muslim extols the virtues of the Prophet Muhammad (s), others might see it as self-serving. Therefore, it is important to look at what some influential non-Muslims have to say about him.
The renowned French writer, poet, and politician Alphonse de Lamartine2 said of the Prophet Muhammad (s), “As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”
When American writer Michael Hart3 compiled a list of the history’s most influential people, he put the Prophet Muhammad at the top. In explaining his decision, Hart said, “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.”
Why Should We Learn About Muhammad (s)?
There are numerous reasons. The early generation of Muslims taught the Seerah to their children like they taught them the Qur’an. There are about fifty verses in the Qur’an that command the Muslims to know the Prophet, to follow him, to respect and obey him, to support him, and to send peace and blessings upon him.
For instance, the Qur’an says:
o “The Prophet is closer to the believers than themselves.” (Ahzaab 33:6)
o “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah you have a good example to follow for him who hopes in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.” (Ahzaab 33:21)
o “He who obeys the Messenger, has indeed obeyed Allah.” (Nisaa 4:80)
o “O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him as you speak to one another, lest your deeds should be wasted while you perceive not.”4
Muslims cannot achieve the excellence of faith until they love the Prophet Muhammad (s) more than their own selves. The Prophet said, “None of you will be a true believer until I am more beloved to you than yourself” (Al-Bukhari).
Once Umar bin Al-Khattaab, one of the closest Companions of the Prophet and the second rightly guided caliph, said to the Prophet, “By Allah, I love you more than everything except myself.”
The Prophet replied, “No, O Umar, your faith will not be complete until you love me more than yourself.” After some soul searching, Umar professed that now he loved the Prophet more than himself.
Allah mandates loving the Prophet more than oneself in several places in the Qur’an, and the wisdom behind it is quite evident. Without an abiding love (and allegiance) to the Prophet, believers would have defied his authority and indirectly Allah’s. One should also love the Prophet more because he was a mercy for us in this life and a source of salvation in the Hereafter with his intercession with Allah on our behalf.
Reflections: People of other faiths are not obligated to love the Prophet Muhammad (s) as Muslims do, but knowledge of Muslim sentiments toward the Prophet should help during interfaith dialogue.
Drawing cartoons of the Prophet or insulting him surely hurts Muslim feelings. To the contrary, no Muslim will ever insult Jesus, whom the Qur’an refers to as Eesa. Jesus and his mother, Mary, are towering figures in Islam, and the chapter in the Qur’an called “Maryam” is named after Mary.
The Prophet once said, “I will be the leader of the children of Adam on the Day of Judgment, without boasting.”
He has been given many honorary names and attributes, such as:
o Muhammad and Ahmad—These are his proper names. Muhammad means the “praised one.” The Prophet Muhammad is constantly praised around the world by Muslims in their prayers. And in the Hereafter he will be praised by the entirety of humanity when he is the only one who intercedes with Allah (God) on behalf of the people. Ahmad means the “one who is highly praised.” This name is mentioned in the Qur’an from the tongue of Jesus.
o He is Al-Maahi, someone who eradicates paganism. Within a short span of time, in his own lifetime, the idol worship was wiped out from the Arabian Peninsula.
o He is Al-Haashir, “the gatherer” around whom people will assemble on Judgment Day.
o He is Al-Aaqib, the last of God’s messengers and prophets.
o He is the Prophet of Mercy for all of humankind.
A Muslim’s life is intertwined with the Prophet’s quite literally from the cradle to the grave. When a Muslim is born, the Adhaan (call to prayer) is said in his or her ears, and it includes the phrase, “I bear witness that Muhammad (s) is the Messenger of Allah.”5 Similarly, this phrase is used in the Adhaan for every mandatory prayer. A Muslim prayer is not complete without asking for Allah’s blessings on the Prophet and his family. When a dead Muslim is being carried to the grave, people say, “BismiAllah wa Alaa Sunnati Rasul Allah”6 (in the name of Allah and according to the way of the Messenger of Allah). And finally, when a deceased is questioned in the grave soon after the burial, one of the questions he or she is asked is about who the Prophet Muhammad (s) is.
The Prophet was extremely concerned about his followers, which is confirmed by God himself:
Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger from among yourselves. It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He is eager for you; for the believers he is kind, merciful, and full of pity.7
Once the Prophet said to his Sahaabah (Companions) that he wanted to meet with his brothers. Surprised, the Companions asked, “Aren’t we your brothers?”
“No,” he said, “my brothers are those who will come after me and believe in me without having seen me.” He would pray for his yet-to-come brothers and seek God’s forgiveness for them.
By studying his noble life, Muslims can revive his Sunnah and defend him against smears.
A Muslim should study the Seerah to know the morals and manners of the Prophet, to discover how he acted in peace and war, with his family and friends, and with the masses and his adversaries. The Prophet said that one of his greatest missions other than conveying God’s message was to perfect the good manners of the people. He promised, “The most beloved and nearest to me on the Day of Judgment will be one with the best character.”8
Studying the life of the Prophet Muhammad (s) is essential for the learning of the Qur’an. The text of the Qur’an cannot be truly understood without the context that only the Prophet’s Seerah provides. Much of the Qur’an was revealed in response to events that happened in his life or those of the people around him.
His was a miraculous life. He was sent to a backward, illiterate people whom the Romans and the Persians held in low esteem. But within a span of twenty-three years, he transformed the Arab society into the world’s best and most progressive.
He is among the most celebrated of Allah’s creations. He was praised in the scriptures of previous nations before he was born. He himself said, “Allah had decreed me when Aadam (Adam) was between the mud and spirit,” meaning the soul had not yet been breathed into the body of Aadam.
He is praised in the heavens by Allah and His angels. And Allah makes it an obligation for Muslims to invoke His peace and blessings upon the Prophet.
Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels (ask Him to do so). O you who have believed, ask (Allah to confer) blessing upon him and salute him with a worthy salutation.9
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1 Maa’idah 5:48
2 Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine (Oct 21, 1790–Feb 28, 1869) was instrumental in founding the Second Republic and the continuation of the Tricolor as the flag of France.
3 Michael H. Hart (born 1932) is an American astrophysicist and author, most notably of The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History. He has described himself as a white separatist and is active in white separatist causes.
4 Hujuraat 49:2
5 Some scholars say this practice is based on a weak Hadith.
6 According to another version, BismiAllaah wa Alaa Millati Rasul Allaah
7 Tawbah 9:128. 8 Sunan At-Tirmidhi, Hadith #2018
9 Ahzaab 33:56
Posted By: Ekram Haque
Ustadh Ekram Haque is a writer, journalist, author, and khateeb. He has a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He has written hundreds of articles in large and small publications, including a number of Op-Ed and features articles in the Dallas Morning News, News & Observer, Denver Post, Newsday and Asbury Park Press. He has taught the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad Sallallaahu Alaiyhi WaSallam to different age groups and delivered weekly lectures on the Seerah at the East Plano Islamic Center in Plano, TX. Those lectures served as the nucleus for his recently published book, “Muhammad: Son of Abraham, Brother of Moses, Successor of Jesus.” He received much of his informal education about Islam from Sheikh Abul Yosr Mohamed Baianonie, then imam of the Islamic Center of Raleigh in North Carolina. Ustadh Ekram teaches the Seerah in a contemporary context and helps draw lessons that are relevant to our current challenges. “Only by following the Seerah of the Prophet Muhammad (s) can we successfully navigate through these turbulent times,” he said.