"And there has been no nation which was not visited by a warner" says Allah in Surah Al-Fatir, verse number 24.
While man conquered man from time to time claiming divinity and superiority over one another, there were some who ruled not kingdoms but the very core of human spirit and soul; their authority... adored by man. They were not Greek gods or heroes of war or even senators, kings or emperors! They were but men of faith, those who believed:
- The Roman Decree that crucified Jesus (peace be upon him) became extinct way back in time, but the message of love and peace delivered by Jesus (p.b.u.h) still heals the wrongdoers of their sins.
- The decree of Paliputra's Ashoka is engraved on stone and rock while the words of Buddha are etched upon the hearts of men to this day.
- The Abu Jahls of Makkah and the Caesars of Rome may have perished, but Muhammad (p.b.u.h) still rules the hearts of countless people in every part of the world.
Concrete facts rather than blind faith are responsible for these impressions; impressions that were stronger than the batter of a sword wielded by the strongest muscle on earth, impressions that would form the basis of human rights and duties in Islam, Christianity and Buddhism.
Muhammad - A Prophet of Multiple Qualities
Allama Saiyid Sulaiman Nadwi in his book The Life and Message of The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) states that Allah sent more than "one hundred and twenty four thousand" prophets to guide mankind onto the way of true success; in accordance with other authentic sources. Each prophet had his own distinct task and an extraordinary quality/miracle from God.
However, God says in the Quran about Muhammad (p.b.u.h) in Surah Al-Ahzab verses 45 to 46 that: "O Prophet! Truly We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings and a warner and as one who invites to Allah by HIS leave, and as an illuminating lamp". The former messengers of Allah had been blessed with certain qualities and miracles. However, none was blessed with such a combination of potentials as was Muhammad (p.b.u.h):
- Sulaiman Nadwi reports that Jacob, Isaac and Ishmael (peace be upon them) were sent to man to proclaim the Majesty of God.
- Abraham and Jesus (peace be upon them) were the proclaimers of glad news according to Sulaiman Nadwi in his book The Life and Message of The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
- A few prophets such as Noah, Moses, Hud and Shu'yeb (peace be upon them) played the role of a warner, sent by Allah the sole Creator of all that there is.
And thus Allah sent Muhammad (p.b.u.h) as one who had all the qualities of the past Prophets (peace be upon them) and was decreed to proclaim and spread nothing but the truth.
Christians - Heralds of Peace
Jesus (p.b.u.h) had a complete communal family; he had a mother, an earthly father and as the Bible tells us brothers and sisters. Nonetheless, it is an established fact that Jesus (p.b.u.h) was born of a virgin mother. Yet, all Christian theology and scriptures fail to address his personal demeanor towards family and relatives.
Social relations and behavior amongst one's own kindred, is a fundamental element of our cultured existence and thus every religion must address a way to regulate these bonds and provide guidance in practical form to influence these bonds positively.
Jesus (p.b.u.h) never married; simple as that. How can his teachings be of guidance to one's spouse? How can his "conduct" relay the behavior of one spouse to another? Nonetheless, these relations have been addressed in the very first chapter of the Old Testament, despite the lack of any sort of personal involvement by a tangible guide (Jesus p.b.u.h in this case).
Furthermore, since a major populace of this world leads a married life, the practical conduct of Jesus (p.b.u.h) would provide no guidance to them at all since he was never married himself. Saiyid Sulaiman Nadwi writes about Jesus (p.b.u.h) that since the people whom he belonged to were ruled by an outlandish authority, "How could he, then, set an example for the rulers and administrators?"
Verily, Jesus (p.b.u.h) can never be the ideal guide to humanity as he remained absent from the circle of his relatives, had nothing to do with earning bread, fighting wars and dealing with foes. This lack of knowledge about his personal conduct amongst; family and relatives, relation with a spouse and the lack of any exemplary administrative authority negates his words regarding them.
Buddha and the Peace of Nirvana - Buddhism
As is commonly known, Gautama Buddha severed all ties with his family and relatives to find the true meaning of human destiny. Thus, Buddha fails to set a practical example of dealings with family and relatives and consequently does not contribute to the establishment of human rights and duties in his creed.
His abandonment of administrative powers to find the peace of nirvana, again strips Buddha of any credit to the development of any administrative systems amongst his creed.
Muhammad - The Ideal Personality
As I review the subtitle I just typed, I'm stunned by the detailed account of the life of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) available for us. To do justice to every single moment of his life recorded in history would require a lifetime of research and writing. It's sufficient to remark that literally every moment of his life is preserved. The way he spoke, the way he sat, the way he sneezed, the way he drank, the way he slept, the way he dressed and walked; his conduct with those close to him and those unknown to him, with children, friends, followers, foes; his demeanor in the military camps, his strategies of war, his likes/dislikes, his prayers in the mosques and even his private dealings with his wives.
Bosworth Smith testifies in his renowned book Mohammad and Mohammadanism that the life of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) is crystal clear to us. That we know all about Muhammad (p.b.u.h); from the time before he was born to his death: "his youth, his appearance, his relations, his habits: the first idea and the gradual growth."
Since every aspect of Muhammad's (p.b.u.h) life has been preserved and unspoiled, it is fairly simple to infer that Muhammad (p.b.u.h) offers the perfect tangible example in dealing with the rights and duties of men unto one another. Bosworth Smith further says in Mohammad and Mohammadanism that: "it is his lasting glory that he never pretended."
Godfrey Higgins in his book An Apology for The Life of Mohammad compares the immediate followers of Jesus (p.b.u.h) with the companions of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) and comments that when Jesus (p.b.u.h) was led to the cross, "his followers fled... they left him to perish". He further remarks that the followers of Muhammad (p.b.u.h) assembled around their victimized prophet, "risking their lives in his defense".
These incidents are not reported to fuel a war between Islam and Christianity or to offend any true believer of Jesus (p.b.u.h) but to depict the intense love Muhammad (p.b.u.h) had for his followers and they for him. There is a unique concept of Jesus in Islam, not found in other faiths... which must be reviewed by a true believer of Jesus (p.b.u.h).
Thus in comparison to Buddha and Jesus (p.b.u.h), Muhammad (p.b.u.h) provides the most detailed account (by acting on the word of Allah); of how one should treat his/her relatives, how a husband should treat his wife; a nephew to an uncle, one brother to another and thus one man to another. In accordance to which Buddhism and Christianity fail to address the right of man and his duty via a perfect, detailed and tangible role model which Islam provides for not Muslims only, but for all mankind, in the luminous form of Muhammad (p.b.u.h); the Seal of Prophets.
*(p.b.u.h) or (peace be upon him): It is an obligation on all Muslims to send the peace and blessings of Allah on His prophets whenever they are mentioned.
Sources
Higgins, Godfrey. An Apology for The Life of Muhammad. Kessinger Publishing, 2003.
Huda. What does the Qur'an say about Jesus? n.d. 24 June 2011 .
Khalidi, Tarif. Jesus through Muslim Eyes. 3 September 2009. 24 June 2011 .
Nadwi, Allama Saiyid Sulaiman. The Life and Message of The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Trans. Mohiuddin Ahmad. Begum Aisha Bawany Waqf, 1925.
Smith, Bosworth. Mohammad and Mohammadanism. Book Tree, 2002.
Ali, Junaid. The Concept of Jesus In Islam 24 June 2011. Suite101. 23 July 2011 .
Quran, Al-Fatir; verse 24.
Quran, Al-Ahzab; verses 45-46.
Junaid Ali - Junaid Ali got his start in the writing business as an academic writer in the freelance commerce. After realizing that the field was too ...
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