Prophet Mohammad's Biography reveals the main features of his character were honesty, truthfulness, sincerity and a solitary search for the meaning of Life which led to his appointment as God's Messenger for the world

By Bilal Ahmad Paray, New Age Islam 28 September 2023 To Love The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Means To Follow The Teachings Of The Quran And Hadith With Letter And Spirit Without Deviating Towards The Other Role Models Of This Contemporary World. ------ Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the last Prophet of Islam was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on Monday (on 2nd ,8th, 9th, 10th or 12th) Rabi-al-Awal, the third month of Islamic calendar as quoted by different Islamic scholars in their Seerah works Rahmat al Lil Alameen (17/35), Seeratun Nabi (1/109), Ar-Raheequl Makhtum (92), Seeratun Mustafa (1/51), Nazrat-ul-Naieem (1/195) Hayat-e-Toiba (p/23) and Hayat Rasool U'miﷺ. In the Islamic annals of Arabia, the year in which Prophet Muhammad PBUH took birth is known as the "Aam ul Fa'il" ( عام الفیل) i.e, “The Year of Elephant”. However there is no such authentication of actual Prophet’s birth date. His father, Abdullah and grandfather Abdul Muttalib, was from the noble tribe of Quraish, traced their genealogy with the Prophet Ismail bin Abraham A.S. His mother, Amina, was the daughter of Wahb ibn Abdu Manaf of the Zahra family. Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) father died before His birth and mother after He attains the age of five years. After that, Sayeda Halima was His wet nurse and caretaker for six years. Abdul Mutalib took the most tender care of Him. But soon after his death, Abu Talib, the uncle of the little orphan Prophet became his guardian. Once Abu Talib on a mercantile journey to Syria was accompanied with his nephew little Muhammad ﷺ (Ar-Raheequl Makhtum p/100) who was twelve years old and a Christian monk, Bahira met him at the Busra and predicted about the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) while taking his hand, he said; "This is the master of all humans. Allah will send him with a Message which will be mercy to all beings." And suggested to Abu Talib “Return with this boy and guard him against the hatred of Romans and Jews, for a great career awaits him.” (At-Tirmidhi; 3620) Finally, Abu Talib accepted the advise of Bahira and returned little Muhammadﷺ with other male servants to Makkah without taking any forward step from Basra. Here in the Makkah, the little Muhammad's ﷺ fair character won the approbation of the citizens of Makkah and received the title of *‘Al-Ameen’* - the Truthful. From youth to manhood, He led an almost solitary life. His truthfulness spread to every corner and became famous & achieved respect as He proved himself faithful in the commercial interests of a noble and rich Quraishi widow, Khadijah while delivering as an agent if mercantile. After this fame of fair character, Hazrat Khadija sends an offer of her marriage proposal to the Prophet (PBUH) which was accepted either their Guardians as well as from both of them. He was 25 years old only unmarried and young while as Khadija R.A was 40 years old with twice married, widowed, powerful, independent woman, entrepreneur lady. She too earned titles like *'Ameerat Quraish'* - the Princess of Quraish, and *'at-Tahira'*- the Pure One, due to her impeccable personality and virtuous character, Abu Talib read the Nikah sermon and the Prophet (PBUH) paid 500 dirhams as Mehr (Hayat-e-Toiba; P/29). Khadija bore Muhammad (PBUH) three sons, all died in childhood and four daughters. He is described to have been ever helpful to the needy, poor, orphans, widows and set a good example of kindness. The Prophet (PBUH) had been accustomed to secluding himself in a cave Mount Hira, three miles away from Mecca, used to go for prayer & meditation. He was now approaching his fortieth year, and as usual was worshiping of the one Allah (SWT). It was the month of Ramadhan, when a divine revelation blessed by an Angel, Jibrail. The Angel took a hold & squeezed him and said: *اِقْرَاْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّـذِىْ خَلَقَ ۔ خَلَقَ الْاِنْسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ۔ اِقْرَاْ وَرَبُّكَ الْاَكْـرَمُ ۔ اَلَّذِىْ عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ ۔ عَلَّمَ الْاِنْسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ۔ (العلق: ۱ تا ۵)* “Read! In the Name of Your Lord, Who has created (all that exists), has created a man from clot. Read! And Your Lord is the most Generous, Who has taught (the writing) by the pen, has taught man that which he knew not.”(Al-Quran, Al-Alq:1-5) The Prophet (PBUH) repeated the words with a trembling heart. This was the divine revelation which made Muhammad, the blessed Prophet of Allah (PBUH) in the cave Hira. The Prophet (PBUH) returned from Hira to Khadija and said: “Wrap me up! Wrap me up!”. She wrapped Him in a garment until His fear was dispelled and told what He had seen, that was terrible. Khadija tried to soothe him, reassured him, praised and counted few good deeds of the holy Prophet (PBUH) as: “Allah forbid! He will surely not let such a thing happen, for You speak the truth, You are faithful in trust, You bear the afflictions of the people, You spend in good work what You gain in trade, You are hospitable and you assist your fellow men.” (Ar-Raheequl Makhtum p/114) After this she went to her cousin Waraqa Ibn Naufal, and told him this all. Waraqa cried out: “Holy! Holy! Verily, this is the Holy spirit "Namus" who came to the Prophet Moses (PBUH). He will be the Prophet of his people. Tell him this and bid him to be brave at heart.” He also said that "If I should be alive till that day, then I would support you strongly" (ibid p/115). A few days later, Waraqah died and the Revelation also subsided. Every Prophet was sent unto his own nation / region for their guidance, but the message of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was in general for all mankind and jinn in this universe as 'Rahmat Al Lil Aalimeen'. *" قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا۔۔۔۔ "* (الاعراف؛ 158) The declaration to mankind presenting the essence of Belief and Message was revealed by Allah swt. HE (SWT) addresses His Messenger with universal proclamation as: *قُل يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُمۡ جَمِيعًا ۔۔۔۔ ( الاعراف؛ ۱۵۸)* “Say (O Muhammad (PBUH); O mankind! verily I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah.” The blessed Prophet (PBUH) has received an open order after a long gap from the first revelation to reform the whole humanity publicly from darkness unto light. The second revelation of the holy Quran revealed to the Prophet (PBUH) is: *" يَآ اَيُّـهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ ۔ قُمْ فَاَنْذِرْ ۔ وَرَبَّكَ فَكَـبِّـرْ ۔ ...."* ( المدثر؛ ۱ تا ۳) “O you (Muhammad) who covers himself with a garment, Arise and warn. And your Lord glorify... ” (Al-Quran 74:1-3) Here it can help one to understand easily why the Prophet (peace be upon him) on this occasion has been addressed with Ya ayyuhal-Muddaththiru (يَآ اَيُّـهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ) instead of Ya ayyuhar-Rasulu يَآ اَيُّـهَا الْرُسول (O Messenger), or Ya ayyuhan-Nabiyyu يَآ اَيُّـهَا الْنبیُ (O Prophet). As the Prophet (peace be upon him) had been terrified when he had suddenly seen the Angel Gabriel, sitting on a throne between heaven and earth, and had returned hastily home and asked the people of the house to cover him up, so Allah addressed him with Ya ayyuhal-Muddaththiru ( يَآ اَيُّـهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ۔)۔ Here the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ have been put under the burden of a great mission. And was directed, to arise from your solitude to perform this mission with resolution and courage, ordered to stand up and arouse the people who live in heedlessness around you. Warn them of the fate which would certainly overtake them if they remained involved in the same heedlessness. It was an open command to Warn the humans that they are not living in a lawless kingdom where they are free to conduct themselves as they like and where they can do wherever they please without any fear or being called to account for it. This was the primary duty of a Prophet (peace be upon him), which he has to perform in this world. His foremost duty is to refute the greatness of all those whom the ignorant people might be holding as great, and publicly proclaim that the greatness in this universe belongs to none but Allah alone. The Prophet (PBUH) came to humankind with a message of faith, ethics, wisdom, hope in which one reminds all people of His presence, his requirements and the final day of return. Though He came with this message, worship one Allah (SWT), spread peace, food the hungry, honour kinship ties, do justice, be truthful, be obedient, have patience, follow the teachings of the holy Quran and Hadith (sayings of Prophet). To love Allah swt, one must obey His Messenger Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ in every aspect of life with letter and spirit. Hence, Allah (SWT) says in the holy Quran: *" قُلۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تُحِبُّوۡنَ اللّٰهَ فَاتَّبِعُوۡنِىۡ يُحۡبِبۡكُمُ اللّٰهُ وَيَغۡفِرۡ لَـكُمۡ ذُنُوۡبَكُمۡؕ​ وَاللّٰهُ غَفُوۡرٌ رَّحِيۡمٌ‏ ."* (آل عمران؛ ۳۱) “Say (O Muhammad PBUH, to mankind); If you (really) love Allah, then follow me i.e Quran and Sunnah (and) Allah will love you.”(Al-Quran 3:31) It is clearly mentioned here that the Allah’s Love is Attained by Following the Messenger Muhammad PBUH only. This honourable verse judges itself against those who claim to love Allah, yet do not follow the way of Muhammadﷺ . Such people are not true in their claim until they follow the Shari`ah (Law) of Muhammadﷺ and his religion in all his statements, actions, deeds and conditions. This all must be matched, authenticated and in accordance with the Prophet Muhammadﷺ in its true sense. It is also recorded in the books of Hadith, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, *" مَنْ عَمِلَ عَمَلًا لَيْسَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُنَا فَهُوَ رَد ۔"* (ریاض الصالحین؛ کتاب المقدمات، 169) i.e., Whoever commits an act that does not conform with our matter (religion), then it will be rejected of him. Allama Iqbal’s (R.A) couplet in supporting this verse is going as: *Ki Muhammadﷺ Se Wafa Tune Tu Hum Tere Hai* *Ya Jahan Chiez Hai Kay Luh Wa Qalam Tere Hai.* None has the right to be followed after Allah (SWT), but Prophet of Allah (PBUH). *لا یمکن الثناء کما کان حقہ* *بعد از خدا بزرگ توئی قصہ مختصر* Allah says in the Holy Quran: *" .... وَمَاۤ اٰتٰٮكُمُ الرَّسُوۡلُ فَخُذُوْهُ وَ مَا َنَهٰٮكُمۡ عَنۡهُ فَانْتَهُوۡا​ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ ​ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ شَدِيۡدُ الۡعِقَابِ​ۘ‏ ۔"* ( الحاشر؛ 7) “And whatsoever the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) gives you, take it and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from it.” (Al-Quran 59:7) Another verse in the holy Quran of chapter Al-Ahzab (the confiders) shows that there is no need to deviate towards the other role models of this contemporary world as the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) is the best role model for you in this world & the world Hereafter. Allah(SWT) says: *" لقد کان لکم فی رسول اللہ اسوۃ حسنہ ۔۔۔"* ( الأحزاب؛ 21) “Indeed you have a good example in the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) for whosoever hopes for Allah and the Last day, and remembers Allah much.” (Al-Quran 33:21) Akhter Kazmi’s couplet in support to this verse reads as: *Nabi Ke Uswah Hasnah Ko Jab Pesh-I-Nazr Rakhein* *Mukaml Tab Kahen Quran Ki Tafseer Hoti Hai* Allah says in the holy Quran; *" يَآ اَيُّـهَا الَّـذِيْنَ اٰمَنُـوٓا اَطِيْعُوا اللّـٰهَ وَرَسُوْلَـهٝ وَلَا تَوَلَّوْا عَنْهُ وَاَنْتُـمْ تَسْـمَعُوْنَ ۔"* (الانفال؛ 20) “O you who believe! Obey Allah and His Messenger And don't turn away from hearing it.” (Al-Anfal; 8:20) To love the final Prophet (PBUH) “He is the Messenger of God and the seal (Last) of the Prophets” (Al-Ahzab, 33:40) means to follow the teachings of the Quran and Hadith with letter and spirit and should not move away from the Islamic Shari'ah that is the last Shari’ah (Al Quran; 5:3) which has been completed by the completion of Din (Islam). The crux of this all is that the Prophet's Biography is not any story. And this is not a myth either. This is not the story of an ordinary person or the story of a Dervish who is sitting in solitude somewhere away from people. It is not even the story of a great and famous person who came for a certain period. Rather, it is above all this and beyond the limit of our thinking. This holy biography of Khair al-Bashr, Sayyid al-Anbiya, Noor-e-Chashm, Noor-e-Nazar, Noor-e-Badr, Mudassar, Muzamil, Taha, Yasin, Muhammad, Ahmad, Mahmood, Bashir, Nazir, Ghiyas, Tab, from whom the Allah swt made him beloved Imam of all the Prophets, the Seal of the Prophets, the Seal of the Messengers, and the only beloved and blessed Prophet of Allah swt. His biography covers the revolutionary movements of good deeds, very high achievements, pure thoughts, grand ideas with collective and constructive efforts. The blessed and holy life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) from a small orphan child to the cave of Hira, from the cave of Th'ur to the Kaaba, from Mecca to Medina and Taif, from the Islamic state to the battlefield, from Badr to conquest of Mecca, from friends to enemies, from the rich to the poor, from men to women, from the city to the villages, from the mosque to the toilet, from eating and drinking to walking, sleeping and Until waking up and wearing clothes, everything is all embracing. And one's heart and soul live to die and sacrifice on the same. There is a model for every aspect of human life. One needs no other guidance from anywhere. It is the N'ur for all ages to come and for all castes, creeds, tribes, communities and colours. Therefore, we need not only to highlight the teachings of the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet, but also to adopt and implement them in its true sense, beyond the celebration of the Eid Milad-ul-Nabi (peace be upon him) on a special day only. So that our lives are moulded in accordance with the Holy Quran as and taught by the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This is actually the name of obedience, loyalty, obedience and sacrifice to Allah and His last Messenger ﷺ. So let us pledge an oath today to follow strictly the teachings of the holy Quran and the Prophetic Traditions, not only in the month of Rabi ul Awal but in every field at every footstep of our life in this temporary world for the betterment of our life in the eternal world Hereafter. --- Bilal Ahmad Paray hails from Tral and can be reached at paraybilal2@gmail.com URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/seerah-prophet-biography/d/130772 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism