Islamic Methodologies Made Easy by Ehab Shawky - HTML preview

The originality of the Peshitta was confirmed by the words of Patriarch Mar Eshai Shimun XXIII who said, “With reference to the originality of the Peshitta text, as the Patriarch and Head of the Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church of the East, we wish to state, that the Church of the East received the scriptures from the hands of the blessed Apostles themselves in the Aramaic original, the language spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and that the Peshitta is the text of the Church of the East which has come down from the Biblical times without any change or revision.”

B. In Aramaic, the word “God” is written in one of the following forms :

1. “הלא” or “ܗܠܐ” pronounced as “Alah,” like word number 2 in Hebrew. It was used about 3 times in the letters of Paul. For example read [Peshitta Corinthians (8:4)]

where it says:

“ ܢ

ܕܚ ܐ

ܢ

ܠܐܐ

ܝܪܚ

ܐ ܗܠܐ ܬ

ܝܠܕܘ”

“ ד

. ח נא אלא ןירחא

ת

הלא

ילדו”

Pronounced as follows, “…Wadalyt Alah akhareen illa en khad.”

Translated in English as, “…and that [there is] none other God but one.”

2. “אהלא” or “ ܗܗܗܠܐ” pronounced as “Alaha,” which is the only word used in the 4 gospels meaning “God.” For example read [Peshitta Matthew (15:4)] where it says:

“

...ܪܡܐ ܪ

ܝܓ

ܗܠ ”

ܐ

.

“ ..רמא ריג א

”

הלא

Pronounced as follows, “Alaha gir amar…”

Translated in English as, “for God commanded…”

Another example from what Jesus said himself is in (Peshitta Matthew 5:8):

“ ܗܠܠܐ ܢ

ܘܙܚܢ ܢܘܢܗܕ ܢ

ܘܗܒܠܒ ܢ ܝܟ

ܕܕ ܢܝܠܝܠܐ ܢ

ܘܗܝܒܘܛ”

“אהלאל ןוזהנ ןונהד ןוהבלב ןיכדד ןיליאל ןוהיבוט”

Pronounced as follows, “Tobèhon la-’eleen dèdèkeen bèlbèhon dèhnon nèhzon l’Alaha”

(Please note that the letter ‘L’ before “Alaha” in Aramaic means ‘to’ or ‘towards’).

Translated in English as, “Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ”

Also note that the word, “ןוזהנ” or “nèhzon” is driven from the verb “ןוז”, which is used to indicate the act of, “driving pleasure from a sight” or “to feed the eye.” Hence, the more accurate translation would be:

“Blessed [are] the pure in heart for they shall be pleasured by looking to Alaha.”

3. Finally there is the word “אירמ” pronounced as “Marya” in English. As explained for the previous Hebrew word “Adony,” it means “My Lord” not “God.” It is derived from the Aramaic word “ראמ” or “Mar” which means “Lord.”

From the previous insight in to Aramaic, we now know that Jesus himself called God

“Alaha.”

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Clarification:

Muslims believe that Allah is the only God. He is the Creator of all that exists.

He is eternal and everlasting. He neither begot any children, nor was He begotten, and there is none comparable unto Him. He is Unique in all of His attributes, that’s to say: He is the Most Merciful, Most Wise, Most Gracious, Most Generous, Most kind, etc.

Muslims do not worship any god other than “Allah,” to Him belongs the universe and its inhabitants. He is the disposer of all affairs. He is Omnipotent, Omniscient and Powerful over all matters. The word “Allah” in Arabic doesn’t refer neither explicitly nor implicitly to any deity other than the one and only true God, the supreme being who has created all that exists, the one whom we as Muslims worship and to His will alone we submit.

“Allah” literally means “The Only God.” It has been used by the Arab Jews and Christians to refer to God Almighty for centuries even before the advent of Islam. It is mentioned in the Arabic Bible more than 2000 times.

Conclusion:

 The word “God” was never used by any prophet when referring to our Creator. None of them even heard this word during his life. This returns to the fact that the English language evolved from the fusion of languages and dialects which were brought to the eastern coast of Great Britain by Germanic (Anglo-Saxon) settlers in the 5th century.

Hence, the word “God,” and the whole English language evolved after Jesus departed earth by more than 400 years.

 The two words pronounced as “Adony” and “Marya” in Hebrew and Aramaic respectively do not mean “God,” they mean “My Lord.” The meaning and correct pronunciation of the term “Yahuwah” are unknown for sure; this name is considered a secret of the highly knowledgeable rabbis. As quoted previously from the Arabic orthodox Christian Biblical encyclopedia, it is one of the names of Allah which means

“The one always existing.”

 The remaining words used by the prophets which mean God are “Aloh,” “Alah,”

“Alaha,” and finally “Allah,” which Arabs, whether Muslims, Jews, or Christians have been using for thousands of years, and will keep on doing so till the end of time.

According to what’s inherited from our ancestors, even before the advent of Islam, it’s the most correct pronunciation.

Now I have a small question for you, “Which is the most odd among these words?”

Aloh – Alah – Alaha – Allah – God

I leave the answer for the intelligence of the reader. May all truth seekers be guided to the righteous path; Amen.

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2. Muhammad, a pretender or a Prophet?

Many non-Muslims propagate hatred towards Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H.

We have seen them making movies defaming him, writing books attacking him, calling him many things like a womanizer, a pedophile, a blood thirsty tyrant, rapist, liar, fabricator, etc. They claim they have read his history and couldn’t find a single act of kindness in it. They say, “It doesn’t matter what Muhammad taught. Any lying hypocrite can ask others to behave beautifully, while he himself does otherwise.”

Well, these were a big bunch of accusations. In order to refute them all, we need to speak about each accusation on its own, and clear the misconception behind it. Let’s start with the accusation that Prophet Muhammad was a lying pretender who never had any act of kindness, and ordered his followers with what he himself never did.

It is absolutely true that through the history of mankind there were many false prophets, they were just ordinary men seeking personal benefits from pretending to be chosen by Allah Almighty to deliver His laws and messages to their people. In order to determine whether any of those who claimed prophethood was telling the truth or lying, we need to listen-to or read what he preaches, and examine his aspects, manners and the way he lives so that we may figure out whether he was truthful or not. Never had a true prophet led an easy life free from severe hardships that only a true believer can endure. Prophets were the most afflicted humans who ever lived on earth, yet still, they were the most obedient to Allah’s laws and teachings. They were the most patient in facing Allah’s tests and tribulations. Their reward is not of this mortal life but of the next, where the obedient believers shall prosper forever.

Any objective reasonable person knows by heart that it’s illogical and unfair to judge someone without knowing him, or gathering enough information about him from those who knew him. Any fair person knows that it’s totally unjust and libelous to build a false image for a dead person ignoring the opinions of those who knew him well, like his companions, wives, relatives, students, and those who believe in him. Today, Prophet Muhammad’s grave is visited annually by at least 20 million Muslims—males and females. Some western writers developed the term “Muhammadenism,” and they called Muslims “Muhammadins.” This is a totally foreign unrecognized word for the majority of Muslims. That’s because they do not worship Muhammad, or think of him as a divine being. Visiting someone’s grave never means that you worship him, it simply means that you love him and miss him greatly. Don’t you visit your mother’s or father’s grave?

Don’t you visit the graves of your beloved ones? It’s exactly the same for all Muslims; they visit the grave of a person they have come to know and love so much; they visit the grave of their paragon and hero.

Since that Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. departed our world 14 centuries ago, and we can’t get to meet him ourselves, then at least we should get to know how those who actually lived with him described him. Without learning how his contemporaries described him, no one can ever build an honest complete opinion regarding his prophethood. Those who attack him without having the slightest idea about how his companions described him are totally biased and unfair to say the least.

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Within the next few pages, I’m going to lay between your hands a brief description of Prophet Muhammad’s appearance, personality, attitude, teachings, etc., as reported by those who knew him best. I shall try to give you a full portrayal of his appearance and his life. This will be a review of how his followers, friends and family described him after his death. I hope that this will help the reader acquire fair knowledge about the man before making any judgments regarding his prophethood based upon falsified fragmented information.

His Appearance P.B.U.H.:

Abu Hurayrah, one of the prophet’s most famous companions. He reported the maximum number of traditions from the prophet’s teachings. He witnessed all incidents in the last 4 years of the prophet’s life, during which, he didn’t leave the prophet’s side except when he slept at night. He described the prophet saying,

“I never saw anyone more handsom than the prophet P.B.U.H.; [he glowed] as if the sun ran in his face. And I never saw anyone faster in his walk than the prophet P.B.U.H., [he was so fast] as if the earth was rolled up for him.” [Recorded by Ahmad and Tirmidhī].

“Whenever the prophet’s garment fell off his shoulders, they shone as if he was created from silver.” [Recorded by Ibn Asāker].

“The prophet had smooth plain cheeks; whenever he smiled, sparkles almost reflected on to the walls.” [Recorded by Abd Ar-Razzāq in Al-Musannaf].

“The prophet had extremely black hair.”

Anas Ibn Mālek, the prophet’s famous servant and companion. He earned the honor of serving the prophet for ten years. His mother entrusted him to the prophet when he was 10 years old. Because of his long stay with the prophet, he was among the companions who reported a lot of the prophetic traditions. Anas described the prophet saying,

“I never touched any silk fabric softer than the prophet’s hands, and I never smelled a scent more sweet-smelling than the prophet’s.”

“When the prophet passed away, there weren’t more than 20 grey hairs in his hair and beard.” [Recorded by Bukhari].

“The prophet’s hair was neither straight nor curly, and his forelock’s hair reached his earlobes.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

“One day, while the prophet was resting in our house, he fell asleep and his sweat soaked the bed’s sheet. My mother came with a vial and started squeezing the sheet in to the vial (before the sweat evaporates). This alarmed the prophet and woke him up. He asked my mother, ‘what are you doing Um-Saleem?’ She said, ‘This is your sweat O prophet, we put it in our perfumes for it is the sweetest smelling among all scents.’ ”

“The prophet was the best in conduct, the most generous, and most courageous among all people.” [Recorded by Muslim].

‘Ali Ibn Abi-Tālib, the prophet’s young cousin, fourth successor, and one of the closest companions described the prophet P.B.U.H. saying,

“The prophet was neither tall nor short, but of moderate height among the people.

His hair was neither straight nor curly. His body wasn’t fat nor skinny. His face was a little rounded, white with a red tinge. He had big eyes, dark colored iris, and long dense eyelashes. He had wide bone structure with broad shoulders. He had thick palms and feet.

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His walk was very fast as if he were coming down a hill. When he pays attention to anyone, he would turn to face him with all his body. On his back, between his shoulders, was the prophethood’s seal, which all prophets had. He was the most generous among all people, most auspicious boding well, most truthful, most easy going, best companion. He who sees him for the first time would fear his solemnity, but loves him when he gets to know him. Anyone who would describe him would say, ‘I’ve never seen anyone like him, neither before him, nor after him.’ ” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

“The prophet’s face was white imbibed with redness. The sweat drops on his face shone like pearls. I never saw anyone like him, neither before him nor after him.”

“The prophet’s neck shone like a silver jug.” [Recorded by Ibn sa‘d and Baihaqy].

“The prophet’s hair was bushy and wavy.”

“The prophet had great eyes with long eye lashes. The white of his eyes was pervaded with a pale red color.” [Recorded by Ahmad].

Lady ‘Āʾishah, the prophet’s youngest wife. She lived about 48 years after the prophet’s departure educating the next generation about his teachings and how he lived.

She described him saying,

“The prophet had a bright face that shone like the moon, he was the most handsome among all people with the most shining cuticle. Never did I hear anyone describing him except by comparing him to the full moon amidst the dark night. People would say,

‘We would admire the full moon’s beauty, but still find the prophet far more beautiful in our eyes.’ You can notice his anger or content from his face. When he was pleased with something, his cuticle shone like a mirror reflecting light on your face, but when he was angry at something, the color of his face changed and his eyes reddened.”

“The prophet had smooth plain cheeks.” [Recorded by Abu Na‘eem in Dala’el An-Nobowwa].

“He had the most beautiful neck among all people, it was neither tall nor short, what appears to the sun from his neck looked like a silver jug with golden gangue sparkling with the whites of silver and the redness of gold, and what’s hidden beneath his clothes shone like the moon in its full night.”

“The prophet had a broad hairless chest, like the mirror in its sternness and flatness.

None of his flesh was flabby, and it was as shiny as the moon in its full night.

His navel was joined to the upper part of his chest with hair led like a rod, besides which, he had no more hair, neither in his belly, nor in his chest.”

“The prophet’s eyes were big and beautiful with black colored iris. His eye lashes were long and dense that they almost merged.” [Recorded by Baihaqy and Ibn Asaker].

“I never saw the prophet laughing till his uvula showed, but he always smiled.”

“The prophet never spoke in rapid narrations like that of yours, but his speech was always plain and clear with separate sentences that could be memorized by anyone who listens to it.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

Jābir Ibn Sumra the companion, and one of the prophet’s blood relatives said,

“One full-moon night, I was sitting outside appreciating the beautiful sight of the moon amidst the sky. I saw the prophet P.B.U.H. [passing by] wearing a red garment, I looked at him and at the moon, and he was far more beautiful in my eyes than the moon’s view.”

“If you looked at him, you would think that he had kohl in his eyes, but actually he didn’t.”

[Recorded by Tirmidhī].

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Jābir also recalled from his childhood the following, “I once followed the prophet home after one of the prayers. He was stopped by some kids in the street, so he greeted them, and petted their cheeks one by one. When he petted mine, his hands were cold with the sweetest smell, as if he just took them out of a perfumery’s vat.”

Al-Barā’ Ibn ‘Āzeb the companion said,

“The prophet was the most handsome among all people, and the best in conduct. His built was neither extremely tall nor short, but to the tall ones closer.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

He also said, “The prophet P.B.U.H. had wide bone structure with broad shoulders.

His forelock’s hair reached his earlobe.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

‘Abdullah Ibn Al-Hāreth the companion said, “I never saw anyone more cheerful than the prophet P.B.U.H.; he never talked to anyone except smiling in his face. He was the most pleasant and simple-hearted among all men.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

Abi-‘Obaida Ibn Muhammad Ibn ‘Ammār, the follower, asked Lady Robai‘ Bint

Mo‘aueth about the prophet’s appearance, she said, “O son, seeing him was like seeing the sunrise.” [Recorded by Ad-Darmy].

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbās , the famous companion and the prophet’s cousin said, “Whenever the prophet P.B.U.H. spoke, it was as if light shone from between his front teeth.”

[Recorded by Tirmidhī and Al-Darmy].

Ka‘b Ibn Mālek, the companion, said, “Whenever the prophet was pleased with something, his face shone as if it was part of the full moon.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

On his death bed, ‘Amr Ibn Al-‘Ās, the companion and famous general of the Muslims’

army was weeping; he said to his son, “There had been a time when I hated no one more than the prophet P.B.U.H., and there was nothing more beloved to me than to capture him and kill him. If I had died in such condition, I would have been among the dwellers of the hellfire. But then, Allah opened my heart for Islam, so I travelled to the prophet and said, ‘Open your hand so that I may swear allegiance to you.’ When he stretched his hand, I closed my palm, so he said, ‘What is it ‘Amr?’ I answered, ‘I have one condition.’

He said, ‘What is that?’ So I said, ‘That Allah forgives all the sins which I have done before.’ He said, ‘Don’t you know that Islam erases all sins committed before embracing it, and immigration [to Muslims’ land] erases all preceding sins, and performing pilgrimage erases all preceding sins.’ Ever since that day, no one became more beloved to me, or more revered in my eyes than the prophet P.B.U.H. I couldn’t bear to fill my eyes with his appearance out of reverence. If I’m ever asked to describe him, I would fail to do so, for I was never able to fill my eyes with the beauty of his face.”

[Recorded by Muslim].

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His manners and attitude P.B.U.H.:

Lady ‘Āʾishah described his conduct P.B.U.H. saying, “Whenever he was given the opportunity to choose between two affairs, he always chose the easiest and most convenient. But if he were certain that it is sinful, he would stay as far as he can from it.

He never avenged himself, but whenever the laws of Allah were violated, he would apply the prescribed punishment; that was in obedience to Allah, and not for his personal satisfaction. He was the last one to get angry, and the first to be satisfied. His hospitality and generosity were matchless. His gifts and endowments manifested a man who does not fear poverty.”

“The prophet used to stand in prayers most of the night until his legs swell. I asked him once, ‘O prophet, hasn’t Allah forgiven all of your sins?’ He answered, ‘O ‘Āʾishah, shouldn’t I be a grateful servant.’ ”

“He always joined in household work and would at times mend his clothes, repair his footwear, and sweep the floor. He would milk, tether and feed the animals, and do the household shopping.”

“Never had the prophet’s hands hit a servant, a woman, or anyone at all except at battle.”

[Recorded by Bukhari].

“The prophet P.B.U.H. used to sew his clothes, mend his footwear, and work like the rest of the men for his house.”

“The prophet P.B.U.H. used to say, ‘O Allah, please perfect my manners as you have perfected my creation.’ ” [Recorded by Ahmad].

Lady Safiyyah, the prophet’s wife and a former Israelite Jewess from the offspring of Levi. She was the daughter of a famous rabbi in Madinah called Huyay Ibn Al-Akhtab who was a fierce enemy to the prophet P.B.U.H. She said, “I never saw anyone with better manners than the prophet P.B.U.H.” [Recorded by Tabarāni].

Regarding his gentleness she said, “The prophet took his wives to pilgrimage; during our journey my camel kneeled down (i.e. out of sickness). I was the weakest among the prophet’s wives, I had a weak back. Unable to stand the pain, I started crying. When the prophet was informed of that, he came to me and started wiping my tears with his hands and garment, but I only cried more. He kept on wiping my tears, and calming me down; but when I over-cried, he reprehended me for over-crying, and ordered the caravan to stop and prepare for staying the rest of the day at this place.” [Recorded by Ahmad].

Regarding this journey, Bukhari recorded that, “The prophet put down his knee for his wife Lady Safiyyah to step on his thigh and ride on her camel.”

Among what ‘Ali Ibn Abi-Tālib reported to his son describing the prophet’s manners and assembly, “The Prophet was always cheerful, easy-going, pleasant-tempered and lenient…His broad mindedness and tolerance embraced all people and entitled him to be regarded as a father to them all…He was willingly and modestly obeyed by everyone…To him, all people were equal. No one was better than another except on the criterion of piety. A favored one to him, was the most Allah fearing…His assembly was a meeting of clemency, patience, and honesty. Voices were never raised in rows or riots. They esteemed the old, and reflected mercy on the young. They assisted the needy, and entertained their guests.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

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Hind Ibn Abi-Hālah the companion and the prophet’s stepson from his first wife Lady Khadijah, described the prophet P.B.U.H. saying, “He was in continuous hardships, and always thoughtful. He never rested but joined day with night [praying at night, teaching and working during the day]. He never spoke for no reason...He was never offensive, and he always glorified any favor no matter how small it was, and never dispraised any part of it…Not one matter of this worldly life ever made him angry unless what’s right was violated, then, he wouldn’t calm down until he corrects the situation, he never got angry for himself and he never avenged himself…Whenever angry, he would look away, and whenever something pleased him, he lowered his looks. His laughter never surpassed smiling.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī and Tabarāni].

Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri the companion described the prophet’s politeness saying, “He was shier than a virgin in her boudoir.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

Anas reported that, “The prophet always started anyone he met with peace greetings stretching his arm for a handshake with a smile on his face, and he was never the first one to withdraw his hand. He never turned his face away from his interlocutor first, and he was never seen stretching his legs in front of him while speaking to anyone.”

[Recorded by Abu Dāwood and Tirmidhī].

From the descriptions given by the people of Madinah, many narrations stated that,

“He always walked in solemnity; he was always modest and most shy, the first to cast his eyes down. He never stared at anyone. He always lowered his looks. He looked ground-wards more than he looked sky-wards. His utmost looks at people were glances.”

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Omar the companion said, “I never saw anyone more generous, more succor, more courageous, or more clean and handsome than the prophet.” [Recorded by Ad-Darmy].

Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah the companion said, “The prophet always spoke in a distinct leisurely manner.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

There are many instances that show his kindness and gentleness, especially to the weak and poor. He always made Anas, his servant, sit and eat with him from the same plate as reported by Anas himself. He used to visit the poorest of ailing persons and urged all Muslims to do likewise as recorded by Bukhari. Prophet Muhammad was most humble, he would sit with the simplest persons saying that piety and righteousness alone were the criterion of one’s superiority over another. He invariably invited people, be they slaves, servants, or the poorest believers to partake with him his scanty meals.

Anas said, “The Prophet would accept an invitation even if he was offered barley bread with some soup whose taste has changed.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

He also reported that the Prophet said, “I am Allah’s servant, I eat like a servant, and sit like a servant.” [Recorded by Abu Yu‘la].

‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud the companion said, “A man came to the prophet to inquire about something; when he saw the prophet he quivered, so the prophet said, ‘Take it easy, I’m only the son of a woman who had nothing to eat but jerked food in Makkah.’ ”

[Recorded by Ibn Mājah].

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‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbās reported that, “The prophet used to sit on the floor, eat on the floor, tether his sheep and accept a slave’s invitation.” [Recorded by Tabarāni].

Regarding his ascetic life, ‘Abdullah said, “The prophet P.B.U.H. used to spend several nights fasting and his family starving having no food. The majority of their bread was made from barley.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah].

Anas also reported, “I once entered on the prophet in his room; he was lying on his bed covered with a very rough sheet. Under his head, there was a pillow stuffed with bast.

Then entered some of his companions, among them was ‘Omar. When they approached, the prophet turned [to meet them]. ‘Omar noticed that there was no soft cloth between the prophet’s body and the rough sheet, and it had left marks on his skin. On seeing that,

‘Omar’s tears fell silently out of pity. The prophet asked him, ‘Why are you crying

‘Omar?’ ‘Omar said, ‘I couldn’t help it knowing how tyrants like Caesar and Chosroes live luxuriously, and now, seeing you live like this.’ So the prophet said, ‘Wouldn’t you be satisfied if they get the pleasures of this worldly life, and we get those of the hereafter?’

‘Omar said, ‘Yes I would.’ The prophet said, ‘And so it shall be.’ ” [Recorded by Ahmad and Baihaqy].

In another occasion ‘Abdullah Ibn Mas‘ud reported, “The prophet P.B.U.H. was lying down on a rough straw mat that left marks on his skin. I said to him, ‘O prophet, if you permit us, we would spread something softer for you.’ The prophet P.B.U.H. said, ‘Where am I from this worldly life, the example of me and this worldly life is like that of a rider traveling on a hot summer day, he took shelter in the shadow of a tree for an hour, then he left and went on his way.’ ” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

He did not like people to get up for him and used to say, “He who likes people to stand in his honor seeks a place in hell.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

Abu Umama the companion said, “One day the prophet approached us leaning on a stick.

We all got up to receive him, so he said, ‘Don’t get up like the Persians do in glorification for one another.’ ” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood and Ibn Mājah].

Anas as well reported that, “The prophet was the most beloved person to us all, whenever we saw him approaching, we only wouldn’t get up to receive him for we knew how much he hated that.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

He would himself, however, stand up when any dignitary came to him. He stood up to receive the wet nurse who reared him in infancy; in respect, he spread his own sheet for her. His foster siblings were also given similar treatment.

Abu Dhar the companion reported that, “The prophet avoided sitting at a prominent place in any gathering. People coming in had difficulty in spotting him, and had to ask, which one was the Prophet.” [Recorded by An-Nasā’ī].

Quite frequently uncouth Bedouins accosted him in a curt ill-mannered style, but he never took offence. [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

Among his invocations P.B.U.H., as reported by Abu Hurayrah, “The prophet always said, ‘O Allah, I seek your protection against dissension, hypocrisy and bad manners.’ ”

[Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

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Whenever he visited a person, he would first greet him and take his permission to enter the house. He advised the people to follow this etiquette and not to get annoyed if anyone refused to give permission, for it is quite likely that the person concerned was busy and did not mean any disrespect.

Regarding taking permissions to enter someone’s house, Abu Musa Al-Ash‘ary, the companion, reported that the prophet said, “When any of you seeks permission (i.e. knocks on someone else’s door) three times and he does not receive any response, he should leave and come back later on.” [Recorded by Muslim].

Anas reported that the Prophet used to visit the sick, sit on the ground, attend funerals, ride donkeys, and accept a slave’s invitation for a meal.

Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah, the companion, reported that the Prophet used to slow down his pace for the sake of the weak ones, and he prayed for them to get well.

Lady ‘Āʾishah said, “When any person amongst us fell ill, Allah’s Messenger P.B.U.H.

used to rub him with his right hand and then say, ‘O Lord of the people, grant him health, heal him, you are a Greet Healer; there is no healer but you, with your healing Power one is healed and illness is removed.’ She further added, ‘When the prophet fell ill, and his illness took a serious turn, I took hold of his hand so that I should do with it as he did, that’s to rub his body with his blessed hand. But he withdrew his hand from mine and said, ‘O Allah, pardon me and let me join thy companion.’ I kept on watching him till he passed away.” [Recorded by Muslim].

The prophet P.B.U.H. never disdained to do the menial work of others, particularly of orphans and widows, as narrated by An-Nasā’ī & Ad-Dārmi. Once when there was no male member in the house of companion Khabbaab Ibn Al-Arat, they were all at the battlefield. The prophet checked on his family daily and milked the cattle for them. Loving the poor and the needy, entertaining them, attending their funerals, and praying for them were things the prophet always observed.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the prophet P.B.U.H. said, “The one who strives on taking care of widows and the needy is like him who is striving in the cause of Allah.”

[Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

‘Abdullah Ibn Aby-Awfa the companion reported that, “The prophet never disdained to walk along with widows, slaves, and the wretched, until their needs were fulfilled.”

[Recorded by An-Nasā’ī].

Lady ‘Āʾishah reported that the prophet taught her, “O ‘Āʾishah, always show gentleness, for if gentleness is found in any matter, it beautifies it, and if it is absent from any matter, it spoils it.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

She also reported that he told her, “O ‘Āʾishah, never turn away any needy beggar from your door empty-handed, even if you had nothing but half a dried date. O ‘Āʾishah, love the poor, bring them near to you, and Allah shall bring you near to Him on the Day of Resurrection.” [Recorded by Albany in At-Targhib wat-Tarhib].

At another occasion, he said, “Seek me among your weak ones, verily you are given provisions because of your weak ones.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

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Tabarāni recorded that, “ The prophet was at the market when he saw a slave girl in the street crying, so he asked her, ‘Why are you crying?’ She said, ‘My folks gave me two dirhams to buy flour and I lost them on the way.’ The prophet calmed her down and gave her the two dirhams then went on his way. On his way back, he saw her again, and she was still crying, so he walked over to her and asked her about the reason why she was still crying, she said, ‘I’m afraid they may beat me for taking too long.’ So the prophet accompanied her back to her folks, knocked on the door once and said, ‘Peace be upon you people of the house,’ but he received no answer. He repeated what he said again and waited, then another third time, and they replied, so he asked the respondent in query:

‘Did you hear me the first time?’ The man said, ‘Yes we have O prophet, but recognizing it was you, we loved to hear you invoke more peace for us. By my father and mother O prophet, if you demanded our presence, we would have come to you; what made you walk all the way to us yourself?’ The prophet told him about the slave girl and what has happened, so the man said, ‘She is free in return for Allah’s reward and for the sake of your walk with her to our house.’ ” And the slave girl was emancipated on spot.

The prophet P.B.U.H. was most generous. Jabir Ibn ‘Abdullah said, “Never was the Prophet asked for anything and his answer was ‘No.’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

Bilal, the companion, reported that the prophet said, “Spend (in charity) and don’t fear diminution from Him who is on his throne (i.e. Allah).” [Recorded by Abu Yu‘la].

Abu Hurayrah reported that the prophet said, “Everyday two angels callout in the sky, one of them says, ‘O Allah, give recompense to him who spends in charity.’ And the other says, ‘O Allah, give decay (i.e. decrease in money) to him who is tightfisted (i.e. doesn’t spend in charity).’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

And he also reported that the prophet said, “No wealth is ever decreased by alms, and Allah never enriches the one who forgives except with glory, and no one ever acts humbly except that Allah honors him.” [Recorded by Muslim].

At-Tirmidhī recorded that, “Once a man came asking the prophet for alms, the prophet answered, ‘I have nothing remaining, but go and buy whatever you need on my account, and when anything [money or something to trade with] comes to me, I shall pay for what you bought.’ On hearing this ‘Omar said to the prophet [out of pity], ‘But Allah didn’t over burden you with what you can’t bear, O prophet.’ The prophet seemed to have hated what ‘Omar said, so a man from among the people of Madinah said, ‘O prophet, spend

[in charity] and don’t fear diminution from the one above the throne.’ The prophet smiled and glad tidings filled his face, and then he said, ‘That is what I was ordered to do.’ “

Sahl Ibn Sa‘d the companion said, “A woman brought a garment to the Prophet, she said, ‘O prophet, I have brought you this garment as a gift.’ The Prophet was actually in need of a new garment, so he accepted the gift, and put it on immediately.

A man among the attendants then said, ‘O prophet, will you give it to me.’ The Prophet said, ‘Yes;’ he took it off, and gave it to him. Later on, after the prophet left, that man was blamed by the attending companions who said, ‘It wasn’t nice on your part to ask the Prophet for the garment when you saw that he needed it, and you know that he never turns down anyone’s request.’ The man said, ‘I just wanted to receive its blessing after the Prophet had put it on; I seek to be shrouded in it when I die.’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

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Regarding the prophet’s leniency and patience, Anas said, “I served Allah’s Messenger for ten years and he never said to me, ‘Ugh,’ or ‘Why did you do such a thing?’ nor ‘Why didn’t you do such a thing?’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

Anas also said, “Once we were sitting with the prophet in the mosque. Suddenly, a nomad Bedouin came in, and stood urinating at the back of the mosque. The companions shouted at him ‘stop, stop,’ but the prophet forbade them saying ‘Don’t disturb him, and let him pee first.’ When he finished, the prophet called him to his side, and told him calmly:

‘Mosques are not the proper place for such an act, or for any impure matter, they are built for worshipping Allah, praying, and reading the Qur’an.’ He then ordered us to bring a bucket of water and pour it on the urine.” [Recorded by Muslim].

And he said, “One day, I was walking with the prophet and he was wearing a rough Nagranian garment (i.e. Nagran is a place in Arabia). An uncouth Bedouin approached us, and pulled the prophet by his garment in a very harsh manner that left marks on the prophet’s skin, he then said, ‘Order the treasurer to give me some money from what you are entrusted on.’ The prophet looked at him, smiled, and sent word to the treasurer to give the man the money he needed.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

Some of his teachings P.B.U.H.:

It should be cleared out first that the prophet P.B.U.H. taught his companions through example; whenever he ordered them to do something, he was the first one to abide by it as testified for by his coevals. I believe that the previous testimonies are quite enough to help the reader realize the fallacy of the accusation under discussion.

Among his ethical and moral teachings are the following, “Those who are merciful shall be treated mercifully by the All merciful, so be merciful to those on earth, and you shall receive mercy by the One above the heavens.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

The mercy meant in the above narration—as deduced from the prophet’s attitude and explained by Muslim scholars—is not only for humans but for all living creatures.

He also said, “He who is not merciful to others shall not be treated mercifully [on the judgment day].” [Recorded by Bukhari].

“Truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes known before Allah as a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Fujur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing), and Fujur leads to the Hellfire. A man keeps on telling lies until he becomes known before Allah as a liar.” [Recorded by Bukhari].

“Fulfill your consignments to those who have entrusted you, and do not betray those who have betrayed you.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

“Righteousness is good manners, and a sin is that which weaves inside your chest, and you hate its disclosure in front of others.” [Recorded by Muslim].

“He whose heart possesses one jot of arrogance shall not enter paradise.” [Recorded by Muslim].

“The best among you are those with best manners.” [Recorded by Bukhari].

“A man entered on the prophet while he was sitting in the mosque; the prophet moved aside giving him space to sit down. The man said, ‘O prophet, there is plenty of space.’

The prophet responded, ‘It’s the right of a Muslim on his brother that if he sees him approaching his seat, he should make some space.’ ” [Reported in Mizan Al-Hekma].

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Abu Sa‘eed Al-Khudri reported that, “The prophet said, ‘Beware! Avoid sitting in the streets.’ The people said, ‘How can we avoid so, O prophet? They are our meeting places where we hold our talks.’ The Prophet said, ‘If you must sit there, then observe the rights of the street.’ They asked, ‘What are the rights of the street?’ He said, ‘Casting down your eyes (i.e. refraining from looking at the passerby, people’s houses, and whatever is forbidden), refraining from harming people, responding to greetings, advocating what’s good and forbidding what’s evil.’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

Mu‘ādh Ibn Jabal reported that the prophet said, “Fear Allah where ever you may be, follow the bad deed with a good one to erase it, and deal with people in good manners.”

[Recorded by Tirmidhī].

Abu Hurayrah reported that the prophet said, “The signs of a hypocrite are three: whenever he speaks, he tells lies; whenever he promises, he breaks his promise; and whenever he is entrusted, he betrays.” [Recorded by Bukhari].

And he also reported that the prophet said, “A strong person is not the one who overcomes people by his physical strength, but he is the one who controls himself when in anger.”

[Recorded by Bukhari].

Anas Ibn Mālek reported that the Prophet said, “Make things easier for people, and do not complicate them. Calm them down with glad tidings, and do not be repulsive.”

[Recorded by Bukhari].

Abu Shuraih Al-Ka‘bi the companion reported that the prophet said,

“Whoever believes in Allah and the judgment Day, should serve his guest generously.

To honor a guest is to provide him with the best food you can for a night and a day, and a guest is to be hosted for three days. Whatever is offered beyond that is regarded as charity. It is unlawful for any guest to stay with his host for such a long period that may embarrass him, or put him in a critical position.” [Recorded by Bukhari].

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the judgment Day, should not hurt his neighbors; whoever believes in Allah and the judgment Day, should serve his guest generously; and whoever believes in Allah and the judgment Day, should speak of what is good or keep silent.” [Recorded by Bukhari].

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbās reported that the prophet P.B.U.H. taught them about Allah’s Mercy saying, “Allah records good deeds and misdeeds. If any of you intended to make a good deed, and actually does it, Allah records it as ten good deeds to seven hundred multiples and more (i.e. according to the degree of perfection). If you intended to make a misdeed, then refrained from doing it, it’s recorded as a good deed, but if you do it, it’s recorded as one misdeed only.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

Sahl Ibn Sa‘d the companion reported that, “A man came to the prophet and said,

‘O prophet, tell me of a deed that will make Allah and all people love me.’ The prophet said, ‘Renounce seeking after worldly pleasures, Allah will love you; don’t seek after the likes of what people have, and they will love you.’ ” [Recorded by Ibn Mājah].

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Omar reported that, “A man came to the prophet and asked him, ‘How often should we forgive our servants?’ The prophet didn’t reply, so the man repeated his question, but again the prophet didn’t reply. Then the man repeated it for a third time, and the prophet said, ‘Forgive him seventy times [daily].’ ” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

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His approach in building the Muslim nation:

The prophet P.B.U.H. established brotherhood among all of his followers and Companions. He established intimacy between them and kept them united. He didn’t allow enmity to erupt between them. Among the prophet’s teachings as reported by Anas,

“The prophet said, ‘Be at the aid of your brother whether he is oppressive or he is oppressed.’ People asked, ‘O prophet! It is all right to be at his aid if he is oppressed, but how should we be at his aid if he is oppressive?’ The Prophet said, ‘By preventing him from oppressing others.’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

The prophet P.B.U.H. said, “No one [really] believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

‘Uqbah Ibn Nāfe’ reported that the prophet said, “Maintain relations with those who break off relations with you, feed those who deprived you, and pardon those who oppressed you.” [Recorded by Ahmad].

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said, “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of all false tales. Do not search for other people’s faults, do not spy, do not be jealous of one another, do not desert (i.e. break off relations with) one another, do not hate one another. O believers, be brothers.” [Recorded by Bukhari].

And among his teachings P.B.U.H. as reported by the companions are the following:

“Allah is merciful to him who is magnanimous when he sells, buys, or demands any of his rights.” [Recorded by Bukhari].

“He hasn’t believed in me him who sleeps at night with a full stomach knowing that his neighbor is hungry.” [Recorded by Tabarāni].

“If you were three, then it is immoral for two to talk together in whispering aside the third, this hurts his feelings.” [Recorded by Muslim].

“Give the hired worker his wage before his sweat dries up.” [Recorded by Ibn Mājah].

“If any of you can lend a helping hand to his brother in anyway, he should help him.”

[Recorded by Muslim].

“The best believers—who have completely believed among you—are those with best manners; and the kindest among you are those who are kind to their women.”

[Recorded by Tirmidhī].

The prophet P.B.U.H. didn’t only teach the companions to be merciful towards each other, but he also taught them that all humans are equal, have one God, have one father, and live on one land. Among what he said in his farewell speech,

“O People, your God is one, your father is one. There is neither superiority for an Arab over a non-Arab, or for a non-Arab over an Arab, nor for a white man over a black man, or for a black man over a white man except on the criterion of piety.” [Recorded by Ahmad].

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said, “Love for all people what you love for yourself, and you shall be a Muslim.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī and Ibn Mājah].

Anas reported that the prophet said, “No man realizes the truth about faith except when he loves for all people what he loves for himself from what’s good.” [Recorded by Ahmad].

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‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Amr reported that the prophet said, “Whoever loves to be moved far away from the hellfire and be admitted into paradise, let him die believing in Allah and the judgment day, and let him deliver to all people what he loves to receive himself.”

[Recorded by Muslim].

Among his teachings as reported by several companions is the following:

“I swear by Allah, He, the Almighty, does not bestow His mercy except on a merciful one.” The companions said, “O prophet, we are all merciful.” The prophet said, “I don’t mean the mercy you show towards one another, but towards all mankind.” [Recorded by Abu Yu‘la and authenticated by Albany].

The prophet P.B.U.H. never used any harsh words, he never named a person whom he knew ill news about, but to admonish such person without hurting his feelings or degrade his status among his brethren, he would say, “Why do some people choose to do so and so.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

He taught that, “It’s better for a judge to be mistaken in pardoning than in punishment.”

[Recorded by Al-Hakem].

Allah Almighty is the Most Kind, the Prophet followed Allah’s example by showing kindness to all people without any regard to their beliefs, color, or nationality. He always taught his followers through example. If he taught them anything, he would be the first one to abide by it. He was most modest, he never showed any superiority above others.

Whoever served him was served by him.

On one of their journeys, the Prophet’s companions were preparing to roast a goat.

One of them said that he would slaughter the animal, another said that he would skin it, while a third one said that he would roast it. The prophet then said that he would gather some wood, and light the fire. Their response was, “O prophet, we can do everything.”

The prophet said, “I have no doubt that you can, but I do not like distinctions to be made, nor does Allah like any of His servants to exert any kind of superiority over his companions.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

The Prophet taught that, “Allah is kind and likes kindness in all matters.” [Bukhari].

“One of the finest acts of kindness is for a man to honor his father’s friends and treat them kindly after his father passes away.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

He always received people with courtesy and showed respect to their elders. He taught that, “Honoring an old man, is like glorifying Allah.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

“He’s not one of us him who doesn’t respect our elders, show mercy to our children, enjoin what’s right and prevent what’s harmful.” [Recorded by Ahmad and Tirmidhī].

“No Muslim ever shows respect to the elders except that Allah will destine someone to honor him at his old age.” [Recorded by Tirmidhī].

Sahl Ibn Sa‘d the companion reported that, “A drink of milk was brought to the prophet in a gathering and he drank some of it. A boy was sitting to his right, and an old men to his left. The prophet asked the boy, ‘Do you allow me to give the rest of the drink to the older folks?’ The boy said, ‘O prophet, I cannot prefer anyone over myself to drink immediately after you from the same bowel.’ So the prophet handed the bowl to the boy (i.e. According to the Islamic etiquettes, the first person on the right-hand-side has the right to drink first when passing a drink).” [Recorded by Bukhari]. Hence, the prophet here tried to break the rules in order to honor those who are old, but it was not his choice, it was the boy’s, and the prophet submitted to his will.

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His love for children P.B.U.H.:

He was especially fond of children. He loved carrying his grandchildren and his companions’ children, and play with them. Many reports tell us that frequently he carried his grandchildren on his back while praying and while giving sermons. He was reported to give them rides on his back frequently. Whenever he was approached by a child, he would carry and pamper him. Whenever he met a child in the street, he would greet him and shake his hand. He always patted the heads of children, especially orphans, he would carry and hug them tightly, then invoke Allah to bless them.

Regarding his kindness towards children, Abu Hurayrah reported that, “People used to present the very first of their reaped fruits to the prophet (seeking his supplication).

He would take it and say: ‘O Allah, bless our fruits, bless our city, and bless our weights and bushels.’ Then he would call to him the youngest child he sees passing by, and give it all to him.” [Recorded by Muslim].

Usamah Ibn Zayd the companion and the son of Zayd Ibn Al-Hareth—the prophet’s adopted son—reported from the memories of his childhood, “The prophet used to put me on one of his thighs and put his grandson Al-Hassan Ibn ‘Ali on the other thigh, then he would embrace us both and say, ‘O Allah, bestow your Mercy upon them.’ ”

[Recorded by Bukhari].

He would pick up infants in his arms, kiss them and play with them. A companion recalling his childhood, said, “In my childhood I used to fell dates by throwing stones at palm trees. Somebody took me and complained to the Prophet who advised me to pick up the dates lying on the ground, and not to strike them down with stones. He then patted my head and invoked Allah to blesse me.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

Anas said, “The prophet P.B.U.H. used to greet and handshake the children he passed by [in the streets].” [Recorded by Bukhari].

Lady ‘Āʾishah reported that, “Newly born babies were always brought to the prophet to bless them. He would then carry the baby on his lap to honor his parents; sometimes babies peed on the prophet’s lap which embarrassed the child’s parents and made them hurry up in carrying their baby away, but the prophet would prevent them saying,

‘Don’t disturb him and let him finish.’ ” [Recorded by Muslim].

Um Al-Fadl, the fosterage mother of the prophet’s grandchildren reported that,

“The prophet was carrying Al-Hussein when he was still a baby, and the boy peed on the prophet’s garment. I pulled him away from the prophet’s arms nervously, which made the boy cry. The prophet said, ‘Take it easy Um Al-Fadl, this spilling could be cleaned by water, but nothing can wipe off this harsh shock from Al-Hussein’s heart.’ ”

His kindness towards animals P.B.U.H.:

The Prophet did not only preach kindness towards people, but towards all living souls.

He forbade the practices of cutting tails and manes of horses, branding animals at any soft spot, keeping horses saddled unnecessarily, etc. [Recorded by Muslim].

If he saw any animal over-loaded or ill-fed, he would pull up the owner and say,

“Fear Allah in your treatment to animals.” [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

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In one of their travels, a companion brought him the young ones of a bird and said that the mother hovered over them all along. The Prophet commanded the man to put the bird’s offspring back in their nest. [Recorded by Abu Dāwood].

It was also reported that on one of their journeys, somebody picked up some eggs from a nest. The mother-bird kept on hovering above the prophet and his companions, squealing for its young ones. This attracted the Prophet’s attention, so he asked the man to return the eggs to their place safely. [Recorded by Bukhari].

As his army of ten thousand marched towards Makkah, they passed by a female dog with newly born puppies. The Prophet didn’t only give orders that they should not be disturbed, but he posted a man to make sure that this was properly done.

Abu Hurayrah reported that, “The prophet said, ‘Once a man was traveling on a barren road, he had finished his water skin and felt extremely thirsty. He came across a well

[beside which there was no tied up bucket to bring the water up], so he climbed down the well, drank his full, and then climbed back up. Not long after he went on his way, he saw a dog panting and licking the sand out of excessive thirst. The man said to himself,

‘This dog is suffering like I suffered a while ago.’ So he returned and climbed down the well again, filled his footwear with water, held it between his teeth, climbed up the well, and watered the dog. Allah forgave all of that man’s sins and praised what he had done.’ The companions asked, ‘O prophet, is there a reward for us when we show kindness to animals?’ He said, ‘(Yes), there is a reward for every act of kindness done towards any living creature.’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

His incomparable heroism and chivalry P.B.U.H.:

His courage, chivalry and succor were unmatchable. He encountered many dangers and difficult situations, yet he always remained steadfast. More than once, brave men fled away leaving him alone, yet he held his grounds with full composure facing danger without turning his back. Almost all the brave men of his time experienced fleeing or were driven off the battlefield even once in a lifetime, but not the prophet.

Al-Bara’ Ibn ‘Aazeb described the prophet’s courage during the battle of Hunayn in which many Muslims fled except the prophet and a few of his companions, they stood their grounds until they achieved victory, he said, “Whenever the fight grew fiercer, we resorted to the Prophet for succor. The bravest man among us was the closest to where he stood.” [Recorded by Muslim].

‘Ali Ibn Abi-Taleb, who was among the bravest of the brave and a peerless cavalier, described the prophet’s outstanding courage saying, “Whenever the fight grew fiercer and the eyes of fighters reddened [in anger], we resorted to the prophet for succor.

He was always the closest among us to the enemy lines.” [Recorded by Ahmad].

Yet, the prophet P.B.U.H. never wounded a man fatally throughout his life. His duels were only in self-defense and trying to disable the enemies from attacking Muslims, they were never for killing. The only person whom he killed was named Ubai Ibn Khalaf, and it was a prophecy which the prophet had given a few years before the incident occurred. Sometime before immigrating to Madinah, this polytheist stopped the prophet in Makkah and said, “I will kill you one day for defaming our Gods, Muhammad.”

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The prophet P.B.U.H. replied, “By Allah’s will, it’s me who is going to kill you.”

A few years later, during the battle of Uhud, this polytheist spotted the prophet injured badly and trapped, so he rode his horse towards him raising his spear and shouting

“Let there be no rescue for me if I fail to kill you today, Muhammad.” ‘Ali reported that,

“The prophet was alerted, he grabbed my spear and lanced the polytheist with it killing him with one strike.” Some reports say that the man died on spot, while others say that he died days later by that wound.

Anas reported that, “One night the people of Madinah woke up alarmed on hearing a strange loud sound. People went out hurriedly towards the source of the sound only to be met by the Prophet who had already gone ahead of them, he said, “It took you so long.” He was riding the horse of Abu Talhah (one of the companions) unsaddled, and his sword was hanging around his neck. He calmed the people down and told them that there was nothing to be afraid of, and then he said, ‘This is one quick horse.’ ”

[Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim].

The Prophet was just, decent, most truthful at speech, and the most honest among all people. Those who exchanged speech with him—even his enemies—acknowledged his noble qualities. Before prophethood, he was nicknamed “As-Sadek, Al-Ameen”

(i.e. the truthful, the faithful). All idolaters turned to him for judgment and consultation.

Abu Jahl, who was one of the prophet’s most bitter enemies said to the prophet once,

“We do not call you a liar, but we have no interest in what you preach.”

Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. started preaching Islam at the age of forty. Before this, he was a very wealthy merchant leading a calm life, and one of the most respected men among his tribe. He always helped the poor and the needy, and took care of widows and orphans. It is well known that the prophet’s preachments agitated the enmity, hatred, and rage of his people. This resulted in a long arduous struggle that by all means of rationality, no person would dare wade into unless he was obliged to do so, and had no choice of his own. Any objective person should ask himself: for what reason did Muhammad choose to suffer all those hardships after being one of the wealthiest, most respected and consulted men among his people? They even offered to accept him as their King, and lay all the riches of the land at his feet if he would forsake what he preached and called for; nonetheless, he never accepted any of their alluring offers, and insisted on delivering his message in the face of persecution, insults, social boycott, poverty, hunger, brutal physical assaults, and being targeted to kill by his own kin.

When he passed away, he was penniless. He ordered the last few dirhams he had inside his house to be distributed on the poor a few days before his death. He died mortgaging his shield to a Jewish merchant in Madinah in exchange for a couple of barley bushels which he needed to feed the members of his family. Would the aforementioned be the deeds, attitude, personality, or teachings of a liar and a pretender, or of a true prophet?

I leave the answer to your conscience.

This was just a quick review of Prophet Muhammad’s personality and general teachings, the teachings that should contribute in forming the character of any sincere Muslim.

In the Qur’an Allah says, “Indeed, there is a good example for you in the prophet for those who wish to meet with Allah on the judgment day and they remember Allah constantly.” [The Qur’an (33:21)].

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Unfortunately, today, many Muslims neglect these teachings. They claim to love the prophet but they have forsaken his path and the teachings that still lie recorded in closed dusty books. Truthful were the prophet’s words when he said, “Allah does not erase knowledge from inside the hearts of scholars after He gives it to them, but the vanishing of knowledge shall reside in the death of scholars. When there shan’t be left any scholars, people will take as their admonishers ignorant leaders whom when asked, will answer without knowledge misleading themselves and others as well.”

[Recorded by Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhī, Ibn Mājah and others].

As for those who hold tight to Prophet Muhammad’s teachings, don’t grief for there is always a price which you must be willing to pay if your intention was to make victorious what’s right. The prophet P.B.U.H. said, “Islam started out as a stranger [to this world], and it shall return to be a stranger, so blessed be the strangers.” When he was asked in different occasions who were those strangers, he gave different responses with very close meanings, he said, “Those who shall continue trying to set things right when people are corrupt.” “Those who shall forsake their corrupt people.” “Honest persons amidst corrupt people, they shall be disobeyed by much more people than those who shall obey them.” “Those who shall try to revive my teachings and deliver them to all people.”

May Allah guide us to the path of all prophets and messengers P.B.U.T.

May Allah reward them with the best of awards for bringing us closer to Him, and for delivering His laws and spiritual purifying teachings to all people, Amen.

Now it would be fair to get a glimpse at the opinions of some non-Muslim thinkers and historians, and see what they said about Prophet Muhammad after studying his life in its historical context. These writers were among the most renowned during their time; they were never known to have embraced Islam. I think this makes their testimonies a strong evidence on the fallacy of the accusation at hand:

“If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the three criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world, and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and souls... His forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire, his endless prayers, his mystic conversations with God, his death and his triumph after death, all these attest not to an impostor but to a firm conviction which gave him the power to restore a dogma. This dogma was twofold, the unity of God and the immateriality of God, the former telling what God is, the latter telling what God is not, the one overthrowing false gods with the sword, the other starting an idea with the words.

Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?” [Lamartine,

“Histoire de la Turquie,” Paris, 1854].

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“His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad.” [W. Montgomery, “Mohammad at Macca,” Oxford, 1953].

“He was Caesar and Pope in one, but he was Pope without Pope’s pretensions, Caesar without the legions of Caesar: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue, if ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Mohammad, for he had all the power without its instruments and without its supports.” [Bishop Benjamin Bosworth Smith, “Mohammad and Mohammadanism,” London, 1874].

“The league of nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the principle of international unity and human brotherhood on such universal foundations as to show candle to other nations.” He continues, “The fact is that no nation of the world can show a parallel to what Islam has done towards the realization of the idea of the League of Nations… Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. They offer the same undying hope for treating mankind’s many ills, which they did when he was alive. This is not a claim of Muhammad’s followers but also the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history.” [Prof. Christian Snouck Hurgronje of Leyden].

“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 levels.” [M.H.

Hart, “THE 100: A Ranking of the most influential persons in history,” New York, 1978].

“Muhammad, the inspired man who founded Islam, was born about A.D. 570 into an Arabian tribe that worshiped idols. Orphaned at birth, he was always particularly solicitous of the poor and needy, the widow and the orphan, the slave and the downtrodden. At twenty he was already a successful businessman, and soon became director of camel caravans for a wealthy widow. When he reached twenty-five, his employer, recognizing his merit, proposed marriage. Even though she was fifteen years older, he married her, and as long as she lived remained a devoted husband. Like almost every major prophet before him, Muhammad fought shy of serving as the transmitter of God’s word, sensing his own inadequacy. But the angel commanded ‘Read’. So far as we know, Muhammad was unable to read or write, but he began to dictate those inspired words which would soon revolutionize a large segment of the earth, “There is one God.”

In all things Muhammad was profoundly practical. When his beloved son Ibrahim died, an eclipse occurred, and rumors of God’s personal condolence quickly arose. Whereupon Muhammad is said to have announced, ‘An eclipse is a phenomenon of nature. It is foolish to attribute such things to the death or birth of a human being’. At Muhammad’s own death an attempt was made to deify him, but the man who was to become his administrative successor killed the hysteria with one of the noblest speeches in religious history: ‘If there are any among you who worshiped Muhammad, he is dead. But if it is God you worshiped, He lives forever’.” [James A. Michener, “Islam the Misunderstood Religion,” May 1955].

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“It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knows how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher.” [Annie Besant, “The Life and Teachings of Muhammad,”

Madras, 1932].

“A mass of detail in the early sources show that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were like-wise honest and upright men.”

[Encyclopedia Britannica (Vol. 12)].

“How one man single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades.” “The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only.” “A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest.

He was to kindle the world, the world’s Maker had ordered so.” [Thomas Carlyle,

“Heroes and Hero-ship”].

“I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today… If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam… I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion, which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence, which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity.” [Sir George Bernard Shaw, “The Genuine Islam,” 1936].

“It is not the propagation but the permanency of his religion that deserves our wonder, the same pure and perfect impression that he engraved at Macca and Madinah is preserved, after the revolutions of twelve centuries by the Indian, the African and the Turkish proselytes of the Koran... The Mahometans have uniformly withstood the temptation of reducing the object of their faith and devotion to a level with the senses and imagination of man. ‘I believe in One God and Mahomet the Apostle of God,’ is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol, the honors of the prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue, and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion.” [Edward Gibbon and Simon Ocklay,

“History of the Saracen Empire,” London, 1870].

I shall conclude this with the words of a clergyman:

“I have read in Moslem writings such deep and tender expressions of respect and reverence for Jesus that for the time I almost forgot, I was not reading the words of a Christian writer. How different, it is sad to say, has been the way in which Christians have spoken and written of Muhammad. Let us put it down to its true cause, ignorance.”

[Reverend R. Maxwell King].

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Whether people care to believe in Muhammad’s prophethood or not, if non-Muslims try to study his life and read the message he preached objectively, they will be able to understand Muslims, they will be able to have a fair idea why Muslims have chosen to believe in the truthfulness of Islam, they will be able to appreciate the aforementioned testimonies and realize their true value. Above all, they will be able to realize how exceptional Muhammad was, find some common grounds with Muslims, and see beyond the fake idea of ‘US Vs. THEM.’

Now, let’s move on to stories of men who actually met the prophet and took the step which the aforementioned writers didn’t. These men—whether former pagans, Jews, or Christians—passed by some kind of a struggle before they believed in his prophethood and supported him. They always had pride in narrating the stories of their faith to their companions. Among them are the following five notable figures: 1. Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb: He was a former idolater and a notable leader among Quraysh, the prophet’s tribe. He was one of the fiercest enemies to the prophet, and was among the pagan leaders at the battle of ‘Uhud in which the prophet was nearly killed.

After 20 years of fighting against the prophet and lurking to kill him at every opportunity, he embraced Islam, became one of the companions, and a devout Muslim.

‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbās reported that, “Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb informed me that Heraclius sent a messenger to summon him while he was accompanying a caravan from Quraysh.

They were merchants doing business in Sham during the time when the prophet held a truce with the pagans of Quraysh. So Abu Sufyan and his companions went to Heraclius at ‘Ilya’ (i.e. Jerusalem). Heraclius summoned them into his court where he had all the senior Roman dignitaries around him. He called for his translator. Translating Heraclius’s question, the translator said to them, ‘Who amongst you is closely related to that man who claims to be a Prophet?’

Abu Sufyan replied, ‘I am the nearest relative to him amongst the group.’

Heraclius said, ‘Bring him (Abu Sufyan) close to me and make his companions stand behind him.’

Abu Sufyan added, ‘Heraclius told his translator to tell my companions that he wanted to ask me some questions regarding that man (i.e. the prophet), and if I told a lie, they should signal him. By Allah! If I hadn’t been afraid that my companions may label me a liar, I wouldn’t have said the truth about the Prophet. The first question he asked me was, ‘What is the status of his family amongst you?’

I replied, He belongs to a good noble family amongst us.

Heraclius further asked, ‘Has anyone amongst you ever claimed to be a Prophet before him?’

I replied, ‘No.’

He said, ‘Was anybody amongst his ancestors a king?’

I replied, ‘No.’

Heraclius asked, ‘Do the nobles amongst you follow him or the poor?’

I replied, ‘It is the poor who follow him.’

He said, ‘Are his followers increasing or decreasing?’

I replied, ‘They are increasing.’

He then asked, ‘Does anybody amongst those who embrace his religion become displeased and renounce the religion afterwards?’

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I replied, ‘No.’

Heraclius said, ‘Was he ever accused of being a liar before he claimed to be a Prophet?’

I replied, ‘No.’

Heraclius said, ‘Does he break his promises?’

I replied, ‘No, We are at truce with him but we do not know what he is going to do.’

(Abu Sufyan explained his last answer saying, ‘I wasn’t able to find any opportunity to say anything against him except in this answer.’)

Heraclius then asked, ‘Have you ever had a war with him?’

I replied, ‘Yes.’

Then he said, ‘What was the outcome of the battles?’

I replied, ‘Sometimes he was victorious and sometimes we were.’

Heraclius said, ‘What does he order you to do?’

I said, ‘He tells us to worship Allah alone and not to associate any partners with Him, and to renounce all that our ancestors had said. He orders us to pray, to speak the truth, to be chaste and to keep good relations with our Kith and kin.’

After that, Heraclius asked the translator to convey to me the following: ‘I asked you about his family and your reply was that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact all prophets come from noble families amongst their respective peoples. I asked you whether anybody else amongst you claimed such a thing, your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following the previous man’s statement. Then I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king.

Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom. I further asked whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he claimed his Prophethood, and your reply was in the negative. So I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about Allah. I then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the poor.

You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And in fact all the prophets have been followed by this very class of people. Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing, and in fact this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in all respects. I further asked you whether there was anybody, who after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion.

Your reply was in the negative, and in fact this is the sign of true faith, when its light enters the hearts and mixes with them. I asked you whether he had ever betrayed.

You replied in the negative and likewise all prophets never betray. Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah alone and not to associate partners with Him, and he forbade you from worshipping idols and ordered you to pray, to speak the truth and to remain chaste. If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew it (from the scriptures) that he was going to appear, but I didn’t know that he would be from you (Arabs), and if I could reach his city, definitely, I would go immediately to meet him; and if I were with him, I wouldn’t certainly refrain from even washing his feet.’ (i.e. An act of honoring in Christianity).

Heraclius then asked for the letter addressed by the prophet which was delivered by Dihya (the prophet’s companion) to the Governor of Busra, who forwarded it to Heraclius.

The contents of the letter were as follows:

“In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. This letter is from Muhammad the servant of Allah and His messenger to Heraclius the grand ruler of the Romans. Peace be upon those who follow the righteous path. Furthermore, I invite you to Islam, if you become a Muslim you will be safe and Allah will double your reward, 124

but if you reject this invitation to Islam, you will be committing a sin by misguiding your people, and you shall bear the burden of the Arians. ‘O people of the book, Come to a common word between you and us, that we worship none but Allah and we associate nothing in worship with Him, and that none of us takes others as Lords beside Allah.

Then, if they turn away, say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims [who have submitted solely to Allah].”’

Abu Sufyan then added, ‘When Heraclius finished reading the letter, there was great hue in the Royal Court, so we were escorted out. I told my companions that the matter of Ibn Abi-Kabsha (i.e. referring to Prophet Muhammad in an infuriated way) has become so prominent that even the King of Bani-El-Asfar (i.e. the Romans) is afraid of him.

Then I started to believe that the Prophet would be the one to prevail in the near future.

Later on, Allah guided me to embrace Islam.’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

It was reported by one of the court politicians —who later on embraced Islam— that when Heraclius summoned his councilors, they refused Islam and denied any possibility that the awaited prophet could come from among the Arabs. They decided to fight against the spread of Islam and stop Muslims from preaching the new religion at any price.

Heraclius agreed with his councilors out of fear for his authority. He ordered his officers to assemble an army, enter Arabia, and attack Madinah. He warned his Ghassanide Arab allies from the new religion. This later on led to the famous battle of Mu’tah.

Abu Sufyan fought beside the prophet at the battles of Hunayn and At-Ta’ef, 8 A.H.

He was 70 years old at that time and he lost an eye in the second battle. He lost the other eye in the battle of Yarmouk, 13 A.H. Though older than the prophet by 9 years, he died 20 years after the prophet in 30 A.H. at the age of 92. May Allah be pleased with him.

2. ‘Abdullah Ibn Salām: He was a former Jewish rabbi, and one of the most knowledgeable leaders among his Jewish tribe. He was an Israelite from the offspring of Prophet Joseph P.B.U.H. from the tribe of “Banu-Qainuqā‘.” They lived in Madinah awaiting the coming of a prophet at that place as prophesized in their holy books. He reported the story of his faith to the companions, he said,

“When I first heard of the prophet’s arrival in Madinah, I recognized his attributes, name, appearance and the time in which we were awaiting his arrival. On that day, I was working in my field on one of my palm trees and my aunt was sitting under it when a man came and told me that the prophet we were told of has arrived. I shouted, ‘Allah is the greatest’ out of joy. My aunt said, ‘If it was Moses who has arrived you wouldn’t be any more joyful.’ I told her, ‘O aunty, I swear that he’s Moses’s brother (i.e. in Prophethood) and following his faith. He has come to revive the same teachings.’ She asked, ‘Is he the prophet we were told would be sent before the day of resurrection.’ I said, ‘Yes.’ ”

[Recorded by Ibn Ishāq].

‘Abdullah also reported that, “When the prophet P.B.U.H. arrived in Madinah, all people were overwhelmingly spreading news of his arrival. I went out looking for him just to take a look at him. When I found him and saw his face, I knew it in my heart that this wasn’t the face of a liar. I listened to what he was saying, the first thing I heard him say was,

‘O people, spread peace greetings, feed the needy, respect the ties of kinship and pray at night while people sleep; do that and you shall be admitted into paradise peacefully.’”

[Recorded by Ibn Mājah, Al-Darmy and Tirmidhī].

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To make sure that the prophet was not a lair, Anas reported that ‘Abdullah Ibn Salām sought the prophet, and asked him about things that only the awaited prophet would know.

He stated the following:

“‘Abdullah Ibn salām went to the prophet and said, ‘I will ask you about three things that only a prophet would know. What is the first sign of the judgment day? What is the first food that those who enter paradise will taste? And what makes the child incline to his father’s like or his mother’s like?’

The prophet said, ‘Gabriel told me of them earlier.’

‘Abdullah said, ‘Gabriel, that’s the enemy of the Jews among the angels.’

So the prophet recited, “Whoever is an enemy to Gabriel (let him know that) he brings down the (revelations) onto your heart by Allah’s will, a confirmation of what went before you, a guidance and glad tidings for those who believe.” [The Qur’an (2:97)], then he said, ‘The first sign of the judgment day is fire that will jam the people from the east to the west, and the first food of those who will enter paradise is the lobe of the whales liver, and if the male’s fluid exceeds over the female’s, the child inclines to his like but if the female’s fluid exceeds over the male’s, the child inclines to her like.’

So ‘Abdullah said, ‘I testify that there is no god but Allah and that you are his messenger.

O prophet, the Jews are falsehood people, so don’t inform anyone that I have believed in your prophethood until they state their real opinion in me.’” [Recorded by Bukhari].

‘Auf Ibn Mālek the companion reported that, “One day the prophet went to the Jewish temple in Madinah and I was with him. It was their festival day and they were gathering in the temple so they hated to see him entering.

The prophet said, ‘O Jewish folks, give me twelve men who would testify that there is no God but Allah and that I’m his messenger, and Allah will forgive for any Jew under the heavens all past sins.’

They silenced anyone who tried to speak, so the prophet repeated what he said, but they didn’t respond. He repeated it for the third time, but still, they didn’t respond.

Seeing that, the prophet said, ‘So you choose to decline. I swear by Allah that I’m the last of the prophets—the one you were promised would come—whether you believe it or not.’

The prophet and I turned and were about to leave when a man shouted,

‘Wait Muhammad.’ That man asked the Jews, ‘Who am I amongst you, folks?’

They answered, ‘You’re like your father and grandfather. We know no man more knowledgeable than you.’

So he said, ‘Then I swear that this man is the prophet you find described in the Torah.’

They shouted in rage, ‘You are a lair,’ and started to swear at him.

So the prophet said, ‘But you are the liars. A moment ago you were praising him, yet, when he declared that he believes in my prophethood, you call him a liar! Allah won’t accept what you say.’

And we left three men, for with us was that man, ‘Abdullah Ibn Salām.”

[Recorded by Ahmad, Al-H ā kem, Tabarāni and others].

After that, ‘Abdullah witnessed all the events with Prophet Muhammad. He lived the reigns of the famous 4 caliphs and died in the year 43 A.H. at the age of 70 after the prophet departed by 32 years, which he spent conveying to the followers what he learned from the prophet. May Allah be pleased with him, and grant us the companionship of his likes—in this life and the next; Amen.

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3. Zayd Ibn Sa‘yah: A former Jewish rabbi who lived in Madinah. Through his studies, he knew that there was a prophet promised in the scriptures whose time had come.

He knew that this prophet would appear in Arabia, and would have two very special characters. Let’s read his story as he narrated it to his companion and former Jew,

‘Abdullah Ibn Salām, who reported that Zayd told him:

“There was no sign left from those of the awaited prophet that I hadn’t recognized in Prophet Muhammad’s face when I saw him except for the moral characters—two in particular—that his patience precedes his anger, and that treating him ignominiously couldn’t but increase his patience. So I went over to him and said, ‘O Muhammad, would you send me the fruits of so and so when they are reaped.’

He agreed and I gave him the price eighty weights of gold for an appointed time.

When this time approached, I saw the prophet walking in a funeral with his companions, so I approached him, pulled him by his garment roughly and shouted angrily,

‘Hey Muhammad, won’t you give me what’s mine? By Allah I know your people, you are known of procrastination.’

On seeing that ‘Omar Ibn Al-Khattab glared at me in a frightening way and said,

‘O enemy of Allah, how dare you do what I saw and say what I heard? If I didn’t fear the prophet’s blame, I would have smitten your neck with my sword.’

The prophet looked at ‘Omar calmly and said, ‘Me and him were in need of what’s different from that ‘Omar, you should have ordered me to fulfill my promise, and ordered him to be lenient. Go with him, ‘Omar. Fulfill to him his debt and increase him twenty weights of dates in recompense for frightening him the way you did 1.’

‘Omar obeyed the prophet. He took me with him, gave me my share and increased me the twenty weights; thereafter, he asked me, ‘What made you do what you did and say what you said?’

I answered him, ‘O ‘Omar, there was no sign of Prophethood left that I hadn’t recognized in the prophet’s face when I looked at him, except for two that I was unable to recognize from his appearance, that his patience precedes his anger, and that treating him ignominiously couldn’t but increase his patience. Now I have recognized them, so I take you as my witness ‘Omar, I testify that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is His messenger, and I also hold you as my witness that half of my wealth is a dole for Muhammad’s followers.’” [Recorded by Tabarāni, Ibn Habān, Al-Hākim and others].

Zayd witnessed most of the events with the prophet until he received his martyrdom nine years later while returning from Tabook. May Allah be pleased with him and all those who are sincere and devout; Amen.

1: Please note that ‘Omar Ibn Al-Khattab was a huge, strong man. His height as described by the companions was like that of a man riding on a horse (the Arabian horses are smaller than other families of horses), so in approximation he was around 7ft. (2.1 meters).

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4. ‘Odai Ibn Hatem Al-Tā’y: He was the leader of a Christian Arab tribe and one of the most rich leaders among all Arabs. His mother was the daughter of the king of Yemen.

His lineage goes back to Joktan, the oldest Arab ancestry. Like his father, he was known of his great generosity. Stories about their generosity were narrated all over Arabia. He told his story to the companions after the prophet’s departure saying:

“No Arab ever hated the prophet when he first heard of him more than I did. I was a noble man among my people, I was a Christian, and as the leader of my tribe I kept for myself quarter of the riches they gained from any battle (i.e. the other tribes were pagans and there was an old feud between him and them). I had a religion with which I was content and my people treated me like a king, so I hated him so much. I summoned one of my young shepherds and said, ‘Prepare from my flock of camels some that are big and strong. Keep them close by. If you hear that the army of Muhammad entered any of the neighboring towns, come and inform me.’

Later on, one day noon, the lad came in and said, ‘O Master ‘Odai, whatever it is that you were going to do if Muhammad’s army was to approach your town, you better do it immediately. I saw some banners that I inquired about, and I was told they were the banners of Muhammad’s army.’

I ordered him to bring the camels he prepared. I loaded my family and possessions on their backs, and took off towards Sham to join the company of the Arab Christians living there. I fled leaving my stepsister behind; she was later captured by the prophet’s army.

When the prophet learned that I had escaped to Sham. He ordered that my sister and all of the women left behind should be held safely in a house beside the mosque. My sister told me that she sat in front of that house, when the prophet passed by, she got up and said, ‘O prophet, my father died long ago, and him who took care of me fled leaving me behind. Set me free may Allah reward you.’

The prophet asked her, ‘Who is him who took care of you?’

She answered, ‘ ‘Odai Ibn Hatem.’

So the prophet said, ‘The one who ran away from Allah and His messenger?’ then he left.

She told me that the next day he passed by the house again, so she asked him to set her free like she did the day before, and his response was the same.

On the third day when he passed by her, she despaired that he would let her go if she asked him again, but a man standing behind him signaled her to get up and ask him to let her go, so she got up and again said, ‘O prophet, my father died long ago, and my brother fled leaving me behind. Set me free may Allah reward you.’

The prophet said, ‘I’ve already done that so don’t be hasty. Wait until you find some of your people whom you can trust and who can lead you safely to your folks.’

After he left she asked the people about the man who signaled her to speak. Those who knew him said, ‘That’s ‘Ali Ibn Abi-Taleb, the prophet’s cousin.’

She lived in that house with the women from her tribe until a caravan from Kada’a (a place in the way to Sham) came to Madinah. She told the prophet when he passed by the house, ‘O prophet, some of my people whom I trust are here.’

The prophet ordered for her new clothes to wear, prepared for her a camel and loaded it with provisions and gifts, gave her the expenses she may need, and he let her go.

I was sitting with my family in front of the house I bought at Sham when a camel approached and the rider was my sister. She got off and shouted angrily, ‘You ignoble tyrant, you severed me. You fled with your wife and children and left me behind—you left the remainder of your father and your nakedness behind.’

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I apologized saying, ‘O sister, what you said is all true. I have no excuse. I did what you said.’

She stayed with my family for some time. One day, I asked her—and she was an extremely firm woman—I said, ‘What do you think of this man?’

She said, ‘You should go to him quickly; if he is truly a prophet, then those who follow him earlier are the best, and if he were a king, then you shall get to keep your glory in Yemen as it was.’

I said, ‘By Allah, that’s a wise opinion.’

I traveled seeking to meet the prophet at Madinah. When I arrived, I found him praying at the mosque. I entered and greeted him. He looked at me and said, ‘Who is the traveler?’

I answered, ‘Odai Ibn Hatem.’ He got up greeted me and took me by my hand inviting me to his house. On the way, an old weak woman called him by his name. He stopped and kept on listening to her demands for a long time. I said to myself, ‘This is not a king.’

When she finished, we went along. When we entered his house, he grabbed a pillow made of leather stuffed with bast and handed it to me saying, ‘Sit on this.’ I said, ‘No, you sit on it.’ But he insisted saying, ‘No, but you sit on it,’ and he sat on the ground. Seeing this, I said to myself, ‘This could never be the condition of a king.’1

He then said, ‘O ‘Odai, embrace Islam and you will be at peace from all your fears.’

I said, ‘I already have a religion.’

He said, ‘I know your religion better than you do.’

I said [in astonishment], ‘You know my religion better than I do!’

He said, ‘Yes. Aren’t you the leader of your people?’

I said, ‘Yes.’

He said, ‘Aren’t you a Christian?’

So I said, ‘Yes.’

He said, ‘Didn’t you keep for yourself quarter the booty your people gained from their battles against the pagans?’

I said, ‘Yes.’

He then said, ‘Isn’t this forbidden in your religion?’

On hearing this I blanched and realized that this couldn’t be but the knowledge of a prophet who knew what he was talking about. He then said, ‘Maybe you hate Islam because those who embrace it are the poorest of all people, or maybe because you see most people fighting against us and we are outnumbered and surrounded by enemies; and maybe what’s holding you from embracing Islam is that you see kingship and power with others; but I swear by Allah, money is about to flood Muslims that no one will ask for it, and you are about to hear of a woman coming from Qādisiyyah on her camel to visit the sacred mosque in Makkah without any fear on herself, and I swear that you are about to hear of White castles at the land of Babel having its doors opened for Muslims.’

I embraced Islam, and two events of what the prophet foretold me have already happened, and there is still one remaining. I know by heart that it will happen, for I was among those who opened Babel and I witnessed the white castles of Babel having their doors opened for us. I have seen women travel from Qādisiyyah to perform pilgrimage at the sacred mosque in Makkah without any fear on themselves. I can swear that there will be plenty of money that no one will take it for the prophet told me so.’ [Recorded by Ibn Ishāq, Ibn Hishām, Ahmad and Ibn Hibbān].

1: The prophet’s house was a small room, with a straw mat as a bed and a leather pillow stuffed with bast on which he laid his head and sat on. That’s it.

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‘Odai embraced Islam in the year 7 A.H. 3 or 4 years before the prophet passed away.

‘Odai died in 67 A.H. after the prophet by 57 years at the age of 120, may Allah be pleased with him. After his death by about 30 years, the third sign was fulfilled in the reign of

‘Omar Ibn Abd El-Aziz (99-101 A.H.). During his caliphate, money flooded the Muslims’

treasury to the extent that he fulfilled the debts on behalf of all those indebted, he paid for the marriage expenses of all the youths, he made regular salaries for every poor person unable to work, he dropped Jizyah, he even sent workers to all barren roads surrounding the Islamic countries to make sure that all people were living in good conditions. Finally, whenever he sent his workers to the streets with bags of money looking for a beggar or any person in need, they couldn’t find anyone and returned the money to the treasury.

5. Salmān Al-Farisy ( Salmān the Persian): He was the son of a Persian mayor of a small village in Esfahan. His people were magus, but destiny held for Salmān another path, which was the path of seeking after the truth. Traveling almost quarter of that day’s inhabited world, living with 5 old priests approaching the end of their lives, making a fortune, getting enslaved, and finally reaching the truth he sought.

The prophet and the companions nicknamed him “The truth seeker.” Let’s get to know how he got this nickname. Salmān told the companions his story as follows:

“I was a Persian from the people of Asbahan (aka: Esfahan), from a village called Jai.

My father was the leader of our people and I was his most beloved son. He loved me to the extent that he used to lock me up inside the house like people do with their little girls.

We were Magus and I chose to devote myself to serve the fire until I became the custodian of the temple. My father owned and ran a great estate. One day he got occupied by a huge building that was being constructed in our village, so he dispatched me to his estate saying, ‘Son, I’m occupied by this new building. I need you to go and check on the business.’ He ordered me to carry out some necessary tasks, and before I departed, he said, ‘Don’t get distracted by the work and stay there for a late hour. I shall forget my estate, this building, and everything out of worry that harm could’ve befallen you.’

I left heading towards my father’s estate. On the way I passed by a Christian church and heard the sound of their prayers. I didn’t know much about other religions for I was forced to stay at home most of the time. Driven by curiosity, I went in to see what they were doing. I was impressed by their prayers. I felt a deep desire to pray like they did, and said to myself, ‘These rituals are better than what we have in our religion.’

I stayed with them until sunset forgetting all about my father’s estate. I asked the Christians about the original lands of their religion. They told me it was ‘Sham.’

I returned to my father who had already sent out some people looking for me, I said to him, ‘Father, I passed by people praying in a church, and I was fascinated by their prayers. I can assert that their religion is better than ours.’

He said, ‘O son, there is no good in that religion. Your ancestors’ religion is better.’

I said, ‘No, I swear that their religion is better.’

On hearing this, he feared that I would leave him and join the Christians, so he put fetters on my feet and locked me up inside the house. I managed to send a servant to inform the Christians on my behalf that I have embraced their religion, and requested that if a caravan comes from Sham, they would inform me before it returns so that I may travel with them, which they did. I managed to free myself from the fetters and escaped with the caravan to Sham. When I reached it, I asked about the most learned man of Christianity, and I was directed to the bishop of the church. I went to him and expressed my desire 130

to stay with him, serve him, and learn from him about Christianity. He agreed, and I lived with him for a while, but I found him unfaithful. He ordered the people to give alms and made them long for its reward from Allah. Whenever they collected any amount of money and gave it to him, he wouldn’t distribute it on the poor and the needy but kept it for himself. He collected about seven jars of gold and silver. I hated him so much for what I saw him doing. After a short while he died. When the people came to bury him, I told them, ‘This was a bad man. He ordered you to give alms and made you desire its reward, but whatever you brought to him, he just kept for himself.’

They said, ‘And how did you know that?’

I said, ‘I can show you where he hid your money.’

When I showed them where he hid the treasure and they pulled out the seven jars filled with gold and silver, they refused to bury him. They crucified his body and stoned him with stones. Later on, they appointed a new bishop in his place. I never saw anyone more pious, more persistent in his prayers, more renouncing to this worldly life in exchange for the Hereafter, or more persistent in worship than him. I loved him more than I loved anyone else.

On his death bed, I told him, ‘I’ve been living with you for a while and I’ve come to love you more than anyone I ever knew. To whom should I go if anything happens to you?’

He said, ‘O my son, I do not know anyone who’s still following the path I’ve followed.

Most people have gone astray and have abandoned what they were taught except an old friend who lives in Mausel (A city in Iraq). He is still holding on to the true path.

Go to him and stay with him,’ and he gave me the man’s name.

After a few days, he passed away. I attended to his funeral and buried him myself.

Thereafter, I traveled to Mausel. When I reached the old man he told me about, I told him my story and that his friend advised me to join him.

He accepted and permitted me to stay with him. I found him as pious as his late friend, but shortly after I moved in with him, he became extremely ill. I told him, ‘On his death bed, your friend advised me to join you, and now seeing what has befallen you, what would you advise me to do?’

He said, ‘I know no other man who still holds on to our path but one who lives in Nisibin (i.e. A city in Iraq back then but now in Turkey),’ and he told me his name.

After he passed away, I buried him, and then traveled to Nisibin. I went to that man and told him my story. He allowed me to stay with him. I found him, too, following the same path of his predecessors. Later on, when death was about to overtake him, I asked him to whom he would advise me to go if something happened to him, and he told me that the only person still alive and holding on to his path was a man in Amuriah in Byzantium, and he gave me his name. Later on, he died, so I buried him and went to the priest of Amuriah. I told him my story and he accepted to let me stay with him.

I found him following exactly the same path of his former friends. I worked and earned my living there by rearing cattle and sheep. I gathered a fortune. After a few years, death approached that priest, and as I have asked his former friends I asked him,

‘To whom should I go after you?’

He said, ‘I know no one left who still holds on to our path, but I believe this is an epoch in which there will appear a prophet. He will preach the pure creed of Abraham. He shall appear in Arabia and escape to a place that lies between two mountains and is full of palm trees. He has some personal signs which will be manifest: he does not eat from alms but accepts to eat from gifts. Between his shoulders there shall be the seal of Prophethood. If you find such a place, then wait for his appearance there.’

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After the Amurian priest died, I stayed in Amuriah for as long as Allah destined me to stay, then one day, a caravan passed by, they were from Banu-Kalb tribe in Arabia.

I told them, ‘Take me with you to Arabia, and my cattle and sheep are yours.’

They agreed, so I gave them my flock and they took me with them. When we reached

“Wady Al-Qura” or “The valley of villages,” 1 they double-crossed me and sold me as a slave to a Jew. I saw many palm trees and hoped that this place would be the one described to me but I wasn’t certain. I stayed with the Jew for a while until one day, one of his cousins from “Banu-Quraiza” tribe at Madinah came visiting. He bought me and took me with him to Madinah. I swear by Allah that the moment my eyes fell on this land, I recognized that it was the one described to me by my late friend. I stayed with my new master and worked for him until Allah sent His Prophet. He stayed in Makkah for years and I never heard of him until he immigrated to Madinah. One day, while I was working atop a palm tree and my master was sitting underneath, one of his Jewish cousins passed by and said, ‘Hey cousin, May Allah kill Bani-Qaylah (Arabs of Madinah), they are gathering now at Qibaa’ (a place at the southern entrance of Madinah) around a man who came fleeing from Makkah and claiming to be a prophet.’

On hearing this, I quivered and was about to fall on my master. I climbed down hurriedly and asked him, ‘What are you saying? What’s the news?’

My master gave me a nasty punch and said, ‘What have you got to do with this?

Return to your work.’

I said, ‘Nothing. I just wished to know if what he said was true,’ then I returned to work.

By nightfall, I took some food and set out towards Qibaa’ seeking to meet the prophet.

When I entered, I found him sitting with some of his Companions, so I went over to him and said, ‘It came to my knowledge that you are a good man and that you and your friends are strangers. I brought you some food which I have been keeping to give for alms.

I think you deserve it the most,’ and I laid down the food before him.

The Prophet placed it in front of his Companions and said, ‘Eat,’ but he abstained and didn’t take even one bite from it. I said to myself, ‘This is the first sign.’

I returned to my master’s home, and for a while I gathered more food. During this period, the prophet moved to the inside skirts of Madinah, so I went to him with what I had gathered and said, ‘I saw that you don’t eat from alms, so this is a gift for you.’

He ate from it and ordered his friends to eat with him, so I said to myself, ‘This is the second sign.’

Later on, I sought the Prophet and I found him sitting with his companions after having returned from a funeral. He was wearing a split garment placing one half on each shoulder. I greeted him, then stood behind him trying to take a sneak peek at the upper part of his back. He sensed what I was trying to do, so he threw the garment off his shoulders, and behold, the sign between his shoulders, the seal of prophethood was clear just as the Christian monk had described it. I staggered towards him, kissing his head and weeping. He told me to calm down and sit, so I sat before him and told him of my story as you have already heard.

Enslavement held me back from witnessing the battles of “Badr” and “‘Uhud” with the prophet. One day, the prophet P.B.U.H. told me, ‘Write a pact of emancipation with your master to free yourself Salmān.’

1: Wady Al-Qura: a large valley of oasis north of Madinah. It contains many villages, and this is how it got its name. It starts with Tema, 400 Km north of Madinah, and ends at Khaibar that’s 150

Km north of Madinah.

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So I made an emancipation pact with my master who agreed to set me free if I cultivate for him 300 palm trees in a barren land which he owned, and give him 40 ounces of gold.

When I informed the prophet of this pact, he said to his companions, ‘Help your brother,’

and they did. One brought me 30 baby palm trees, one brought 20, and another brought 10, until I gathered all 300. The prophet told me, ‘Go Salmān, dig their plantation places, and when you finish, I shall put them in their places with my own hands.’

I dug their plantation places with the help of the companions. When we finished, I informed the prophet. He came and we handed him the baby trees one by one. He planted all 300 with his own hands. I swear by Allah, not one of them died. By this, I fulfilled the first part of the pact, but there still remained the 40 ounces of gold. Not long after that, the prophet P.B.U.H. received a piece of gold equal in size to a hen’s egg.

He asked his companions about me saying, ‘What has the enslaved Persian done?’

They sent word telling me to come to the prophet.

He said, ‘Take this Salmān and fulfill the remainder of your debt.’

I said, ‘And where is this little piece compared to my debt, O prophet?’

‘Take it and Allah shall fulfill your debt,’ he responded.

I took the golden egg and went over to the Jew. I kept on breaking parts of it and weighing.

I swear that all of the 40 ounces were fulfilled from that small piece of gold the prophet gave me. At last I was free, and I never missed an event with the prophet P.B.U.H. after that day.” [Recorded by Ahmad].

What an honorable journey. May Allah’s blessings be upon Salmān for striving through this long path seeking after the truth. May Allah reward him for his incredible patience and perseverance. The prophet honored Salmān saying, “Salmān is one of us, he’s a member of my family.” No other companion was ever given that honor. He died after the prophet passed away by about 22 years in the reign of ‘Othman Ibn Affan.’ May Allah be pleased with him and with all the companions; Amen.

Many non-Muslims find the previous stories weird and contradicting to their previous knowledge. Many Muslims as well—if not most of them—don’t have a clue about the prophet’s signs in the old scriptures. In order to have sufficient understanding for the concept of Prophethood and its logic according to the Islamic teachings, this concept and Prophet Muhammad’s signs in the old scriptures shall need further exploration. Let’s do that, may the benefit of this chapter be completed.

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1.2 The Prophethood Glad Tidings

The biggest problem that had usually faced the prophets in delivering their messages is that many people were unable to understand the concept of “Prophethood,”

they were unable to realize its necessity. They couldn’t comprehend that without divine messages, we will all be like laborers taken to a jobsite without being informed of the tasks we are supposed to do, and the guidelines which we should follow in fulfilling our tasks. Consequently, there have always existed those who took other gods besides the Creator, those who worshipped gods of their own invention, and those who denied the existence of any God. Meanwhile, there have always existed those who believed in the Creator and followed his messengers.

As humans, we were created having a certain mechanism through which we can acquire information, understand it, and realize the truth of everything. This mechanism consists of the five senses, and the mind, reason, or intellect. Through our five senses, we perceive and collect all sorts of information. This information is then analyzed through our most important merit as one of the creatures living on earth, which is the ‘Human Mind.’

Accordingly, we are able to realize the truth of such information. As far as most of the five senses are functioning alongside the intellect, anyone shall be able to learn, acquire knowledge and understand the reality of things. But what happens when we as humans need knowledge about matters which our five senses cannot perceive on their own?

For example: How did everything come to exist? Who is our creator? How is He like, and what are His attributes? How can we communicate with Him? Who taught the very first humans how to speak and talk instead of humming for instance? We all think of the previous besides many other questions since childhood, but our learning mechanism stands incapable of answering.

With the help of advanced technologies reached in the last 200 years and established upon the sciences founded and enriched by mankind throughout 5 millennia, we were able to learn a lot about ourselves, the planet on which we are living, and the universe around us.

We were able to discover many of the physical laws and rules that govern its components.

The universe was originated from a magnificently rapid expansion in a singularity point resulting in a celestial gaseous dust cloud. From it, constellations, billions of planets and stars were formed. We see the earth, the moon, the sun, the whole Milky Way and other millions of galaxies, all revolving in perfect cycles in their orbits, all at the same time.

We see the universe marvelously arranged, following logical physical laws. If we were to say that the universe was originated from this Big Bang without the need for any creator, then we will have to give a logical answer to the following question, “How did the singularity point from which everything started come to exist?” I believe that any person should be able to conclude through reason that this whole system that we call

“The Universe,” functioning with rational laws, which govern each and everything inside it, must have been created, sustained and guided through all stages of its evolution by an absolutely knowledgeable powerful eternal entity—the entity that most people call God.

If through reason we can deduce the existence of God, then we should also be able to figure out that this Omniscient deity couldn’t have designed this planet we call Earth perfectly suiting for life; thereafter, He created various living creatures to live on it; later on, at a certain stage through the long history of life on earth, God created man, 134

made him superior above all other creatures by bestowing upon him the beautiful amazing merit we call the “Human Mind,” granted him the ability to think, learn, search, deduce, speak, and discover all sorts of knowledge, have the ability to examine various feelings like love, joy, anger, longing, sadness, desire, jealousy, etc., all for no reason or without any plan. This Mighty capable deity couldn’t have just created all this and then abandoned it, especially this intelligent creature. He couldn’t leave man off in total darkness without ever communicating with him and guiding him through his life whenever he’s in need of guidance, show him the signs of His existence, teach him wisdom and righteousness, teach him how did everything begin, how did he come into this world, why was he created, what are the rules most fitting for him to live with, what are his duties towards other creatures and the planet on which he is living, what is beneficial for him and what is harmful, etc.

Imagine that you sent one of your employees or servants to a designated place without ever telling him of the tasks which he’s supposed to carryout and how to accomplish them, neither while he is leaving, nor explaining it to him later on through some message.

If a man of ordinary reason cannot do this, how can something like this be imagined with respect to the most Holy Lord under whose ultimate wisdom this whole universal system is functioning! As a matter of fact, Prophethood is the creator’s method of communicating with His creation. Allah did not forsake His servants or His creation in the dark, He has instituted a regular system for their guidance. This very regular system of guidance is what we call “Prophethood.” This should make it crystal clear that Prophethood is not some illogical religious belief, but a rational need that should be figured out if we follow reason.

Mankind, through their history, have passed by many stages of development. Civilizations rose and fell all around the world. If you try to study the reasons behind the falling of great civilizations you will find many reasons, mainly one in common, they forsook the ethical and moral reformatory teachings of their Creator, which were delivered by His messengers and prophets. The knowledge attained by these civilizations was sometimes preserved and other times lost with the decline of their nations. When mankind attained the proper amount of knowledge that can help them enter a self-sustaining stage of development after their extremely long history that goes back hundreds of thousands of years, they were extremely far away from their creator’s ethical teachings. At that point, the Omniscient Creator sent them His final messenger and message, and because there wasn’t going to be any more messages after that, He promised to keep that final message intact from any distortion or tampering, and protect the message bearer till he delivers it.

This final message in Muslims’ belief is THE QUR’AN, the last testament to mankind, and the bearer is Muhammad, the last prophet and the corner stone.

Now, a logical question probably arises in everyone’s mind, which is, “Upon whom does God bestow his revelations and how?” Let us think rationally and give ourselves an example from what we see in our daily lives. If you own a company that works in the construction business for instance, and you wanted to hire a new principal engineer who would be responsible for preparing all the junior engineers, choose from among them their most clever ones to be the senior engineers and team leaders, he will teach them, train them, answer their questions, revise their work, correct their mistakes, approve or reject their work, etc. What would be the most correct method in hiring such an engineer?

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Logic says that the most correct approach would be to review all existing candidates, and then choose the one who has the best qualifications, whom you can prepare to face the difficulties and hardships of such a job. After this, you will assign a deputy to prepare him and transfer to him the information he needs in order to carry out the tasks for which he is assigned. Finally, you will watch his progress to interfere when necessary.

This approach is almost the same as what the Creator has been doing in order to teach and guide us. Allah Almighty—ever since Adam the father of all prophets—has been sending down his revelations with the angel he created and assigned for this job—namely

“Gabriel,”— to the best and the most pious believing humans who can bear the burden of delivering the divine messages to their people. This human is like the principal engineer in the above example and the one whom we call a messenger or a prophet. Prophets are the ones chosen by Allah to deliver his messages to us as humans and teach us about His attributes, our existence, the best way to live in this worldly life, what’s harmful and what’s useful, the laws by which if we abide we shall prosper, he teaches us about our tasks and how to do them.

Some people teach that Allah has given a covenant to a certain lineage or race to bestow his revelations and messages upon a prophet chosen only from among them. Islam, on the other hand, teaches that Allah Almighty chooses whoever He likes and knows in His ultimate wisdom to be the best among every nation for delivering His message—without any regards to his race or lineage. Allah Almighty is not a racist nor could He be.

Islam teaches that Allah never punishes any people except after sending them a warner or a messenger to teach them about their Creator’s laws and moral teachings. In the Holy Qur’an, Allah says about this:

“Allah chooses as messengers whomever He wills.” [The Qur’an (3:179)].

“The decree of Allah is at hand, so do not seek to hasten it. Holy is He, and exalted far above what they associate with Him. He sends down the angels with revelations by His command to whomever of His servants He pleases, saying, ‘Warn mankind that there is no God but Me, so beware of Me.’ ” [The Qur’an (16:1-2)].

“Allah chooses messengers from among the angels and from among men. Allah is All Hearing, All Seeing.” [The Qur’an (22:75)].

“We have never sent a messenger who did not use his own people’s language to make things clear for them.” [The Qur’an (14:4)].

“Whoever accepts guidance does so for his own good, whoever strays does so at his own peril. No soul will bear another’s burden, nor do We punish until We have sent a messenger.” [The Qur’an (17:15)].

It is true that most of the prophets mentioned in the Qur’an, and sent after Abraham were from his offspring, but the Qur’an does not teach that this was some kind of a covenant between Abraham and Allah, it was rather a blessing bestowed upon those who were pious among Abraham’s offspring. Abraham P.B.U.H. invoked Allah to bless his offspring with prophets from among themselves to teach them about their creator.

This is mentioned in the Qur’an as follows:

“Remember when Abraham’s Lord tested him with certain commandments, which he fulfilled, He said, ‘I will make you a religious model for the people.’ Abraham asked,

‘And from among my descendants too?’ Allah answered, ‘My pledge does not hold for those who do evil.’ ” [The Qur’an (2:124)].

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Allah also says in the Qur’an:

“We have sent other messengers before you (O Muhammad), some We have mentioned to you and some We have not.” [The Qur’an (40:78)].

Islam teaches that the previous holy books pointed out and taught that there will be a last prophet, the seal of all prophets. He will be sent to deliver to all people the final message and final law by which they should abide till the judgment day comes. All of the preceding prophets were sent specifically to their people, to teach them about their creator, the one and only God, treat what they have corrupted in this understanding in a way that fits their conditions and their capability of understanding. None of the prophets was ordered to preach his message to all people on earth, but only to his people or a certain nation as specified to him by Allah. Of course, all these messages preached the same creed of faith but had different laws according to the era and state of the people to whom it was sent. For example, the laws of marriage for the previous nations permitted a man to gather to himself in marriage two sisters, like Prophet Jacob’s marriage to Leah and Rachel. This was later on abrogated and forbidden in the message Allah bestowed upon His Prophet Moses. Nonetheless, the creed of faith has always been the same and it never changed, for changing it only means that God Himself is changed, which is absolutely impossible.

Different Nations ↔ Different Languages ↔ Different Messengers Different Eras ↔ Different circumstances ↔ Different Laws Same Sender ↔ Same Creed of Faith

Final Message ↔ Final Messenger ↔ Final Law

When humanity reached the era in which it had acquired the primitive knowledge capable of introducing mankind into a self-sustaining stage of progress, most people were straying from the prophets’ pure creed and teachings. Instead they followed the teachings of sects of men who have added, hidden, struck-off and corrupted those teachings according to their own understanding, whim, and will. The world was mostly occupied by 2 major fighting military empires; namely, the Roman and Persian empires. Besides those two, there existed small scattered communities that were incapable of achieving any progress.

Men were categorized according to their color, lineage, race, status and wealth. It was then the time for that last prophet, the one by whom all prophets would be sealed, the original pure creed of faith would be restored, the previous messages and correct laws would be confirmed, and what was corrupted or misunderstood from them would be explained, clarified and preserved from any distortion by Almighty’s own care. It was time for one final message sent to all people telling them that they are all one nation, having one true God, one father, and one land. All people are one family. They should be gathered by mercy, justice and respect in their pursuit to fulfill the task for which they were created, that’s keeping their trust in being their Creator’s vicegerents on earth.

Many of the prophets were informed of that last prophet. They gave glad tidings to their companions and followers about him, and ordered them to follow and support him if they witness his coming. This last prophet’s attributes and signs were described in the previous holy books sent by Allah. The teachings and final law that he would deliver were alluded to, and even his followers were described, the ones who would stand by him, support, and strengthen him through his mission.

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When Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. was sent, people of the book (i.e. Jews and Christians) split in to two groups since his time and till this moment. The first group believed in his prophethood. They embraced Islam and taught their children that the Qur’an is Allah’s final testament to all people. The other group declined.

First, the Jewish nation

History books tell us that some of the rabbis living in Arabia recognized Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. They were the most to ask him about things they knew that only a true prophet can answer. Some of them believed that he was the unlettered prophet they have been informed of, who would be the seal of all prophets, while others declined.

They saw that Ishmael and his offspring are not included in God’s covenant to Abraham.

According to their understanding, the final promised prophet must be chosen from among the “sons of Israel.” The end product of this belief was that they denied Muhammad’s Prophethood. Working reason and logic, we can understand that “The Creator” could not be an exclusive God for a certain lineage from among His creation. Prophethood itself is not some kind of an honorary position, but it’s a heavy burden, a responsibility, and a tough tribulation that only the most patient of all pious people can carry and deliver to the rest of mankind. Let’s analyze what the Old Testament says about this issue: The Book of Genesis 22:2 says, “And he said, Take now your son, your only [son] Isaac, whom you love, and get into the land of Moriah, and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of.”

A question arises in one’s mind when reading this verse, how come God calls Isaac in the previous verse, “your only son,” when Abraham already had an older son; namely, Ishmael from Hagar?! The answer that is mostly given by rabbis and priests is that the meaning intended is, “your only legitimate son,” and Ishmael was not a legitimate son for he was the son of a concubine.

Well, let’s see what the Bible says about this explanation. From Genesis, just a few pages earlier, we read the following verses:

(16:3) And Sarai Abram’s wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. (16:4) And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived…….

(16:15) And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son’s name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. (16:16) And Abram [was] fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram.......

(17:4) As for me, behold, my covenant [is] with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.........

(17:7) And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your seed after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto you, and to your seed after you. (17:8) And I will give unto you, and to your seed after you, the land wherein you art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God……….

(17:10) This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and your seed after you, Every man child among you shall be circumcised………

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(17:21) But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto you at this set time in the next year……

(17:23) And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham’s house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him…….

(17:25) And Ishmael his son [was] thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. (17:26) In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son…….

Working reason and logic in the above verses, one can easily realize that Hagar was Abraham’s wife, and Ishmael seems pretty legitimate as Abraham’s son and seed.

He was born to Abraham at 86 years of age. He was circumcised with his father when he was 13 and Abraham was 99. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, and He promised to keep an everlasting covenant in Abraham’s seed.

Please note how verse No. (17:21) seems inconsistent with its context in a way that doesn’t make any sense. Read the above neglecting this verse and you will notice what I mean. According to this verse, God’s “EVERLASTING covenant” was changed when Sarah (Israel’s grandmother) gave birth to Isaac, Genesis says: (21:2) For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. (21:3) And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. (21:4) And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. (21:5) And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him…

(21:8) And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the [same]

day that Isaac was weaned. (21:9) And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. (21:10) Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, Isaac. (21:11) And the thing was very grievous in Abraham’s sight because of his son. (21:12) And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in your sight because of the lad, and because of your bondwoman, in all that Sarah has said unto you, hearken unto her voice, for in Isaac shall your seed be called.

So from the above, it is obvious that Isaac was born to Abraham when he was 100 years old to become his second son. He was circumcised as a baby. Now concentrate with the following please, According to the “Babylon Talmud” a child is weaned at the end of 24 months. According to the bible between our hands today: After Isaac was weaned, Sarah ordered Abraham to cast out Hagar and her son because Ishmael—who was almost 16 at that time—mocked Isaac who was only 2 years old! Abraham hated to do so for it was not right to cast out his wife and his 16 years old first born son just to satisfy his other wife, but amazingly, God’s orders came to Abraham that he should hearken unto Sarah’s orders, for in Isaac shall his seed be called. Well now God is taking sides and despising Hagar and her son, “Abraham’s first born son,” for being the son of an Ex-bondwoman.

But for the sake of Abraham God continues:

(21:13) And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he

[is] your seed.

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Although Hagar was Abraham’s wife and Ishmael his seed, but as an Ex-bondwoman, she and her son were despised and cast out as ordered by God himself. This is either racism against his own creation, or pure corruptions in the real story and the words of God. In order to solve this dilemma, let’s continue reading: (21:14) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave [it] unto Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. (21:15) And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. (21:16) And she went, and sat her down over against [him] a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against [him,] and lift up her voice, and wept. (21:17) And God heard the voice of the lad, and the angel of God called Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth you, Hagar? fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he [is.] (21:18) Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand, for I will make him a great nation. (21:19) And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. (21:20) And God was with the lad, and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. (21:21) And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

Now the “almost 16 years old son” who was described earlier to be mocking his 2 years old baby brother, and brought upon himself and his mother the wrath of his stepmom, is amazingly described to be carried up on the shoulder of his mother, being cast under a shrub, and described by his mother as a child; thereafter, God orders Hagar to lift him up and to hold him in her hands! Reason and logic could never get this picture, not even a bit. The inconsistency and distortion in the story is crystal clear.

Now, let’s look into the Qur’an and the Sunnah for explanations. Allah tells us the full story of Abraham’s faith, his avid spiritual search for the creator of this marvelous universe, his self-intelligence debates, receiving revelations, his people’s trial to burn him when he invited them to forsake worshipping idols and to only worship their Creator, etc.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“They said, ‘Build for him a structure (i.e. big furnace), and throw him into the blazing fire.’ So, they plotted against him, but We made them the lowest. And he said, ‘I am going to my Lord, He will guide me. O, My Lord! Bless me with a righteous offspring.’ So We gave him tidings of a forbearing son (i.e. Ishmael). And when he (the boy) reached an age in which he could strive with him, he (Abraham) said, ‘O my son, I have seen in a dream (i.e. a vision) that I am slaughtering you, so consider, what is your opinion?’ He said,

‘O father! Do that which you are commanded to do. You shall find me with Allah’s willing one of those who endure patiently.’ So, when they had both submitted (to Allah’s will), and he (Abraham) laid him upon his forehead, We called out to him, ‘O Abraham, you have (already) fulfilled the vision. Lo! thus do We reward the good.’ Lo! that verily was a clear test. And We redeemed him with a great sacrifice. And We left for him (a word of praise) among the later people, ‘Peace be upon Abraham.’ Thus do We reward the good.

Lo! he is one of Our believing servants. And We gave him tidings of the birth of Isaac, a prophet among the righteous. And We blessed him and Isaac. And of their seed are some who do good, and some who plainly wrong themselves.” [The Qur’an (37:97-113)].

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Hence, the Qur’an tells us that Abraham’s first born son, “Ishmael”—the son who was ever at a time Abraham’s “only son” —was the one whom Abraham was ordered to sacrifice, not Isaac. This clears up the dilemma of the first point stated, and now makes more sense. Ishmael was a blessing for Abraham after 86 years of having no children.

Consequently, Abraham loved him and became attached to him so much. It was only then that Allah tried Abraham with a test of faith. The main purpose was to teach him that his love for his Lord must not be surpassed by love to any of his Lord’s endowments. It was a tribulation through which Allah set Abraham as an example for all faithful believers through the ages. As a result, Abraham became their spiritual father, and his faith became their only lawful faith till the end of time. Actually, the name “Abraham” linguistically means, “father of many.” Hence, unlike the Bible’s story, the Qur’an tells us that Abraham saw in a vision that he was slaughtering his only son, so when Ishmael—his only son at that time—reached the age in which he can strive along with his father (i.e. teenage years), Abraham told him of his vision, and Ishmael said that they should do as Allah orders.

The Islamic traditions explain that on this day, satan tried to seduce Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael from following Allah’s orders. Whenever he came to one of them in a human form, they sought Allah’s refuge from his seduction, and threw him with stones driving him away. This tradition is still followed on that same day every year in the ceremonies of the Muslims’ pilgrimage at the same place where the events occurred. The place is called Menah. The tradition is revived in a symbolic way of course. It’s a reminder of the day when satan failed to seduce a father from slaughtering his only son—a son with whom he was blessed after a lifetime. Thereafter, satan failed to seduce a mother from escaping away with her only son—and only family—from his old father who was going to slaughter him leaving her totally alone without anyone to protect and take care of her.

Finally, satan failed to seduce even the young boy, or make him run away in fear for his life. Abraham, Hagar, and Ishmael, had set for all mankind the greatest example of full submission and respect to Allah’s orders. Unfortunately, many people today would stand incapable of realizing how magnificent that day was throughout the human history; a day in which mankind’s faith was tested to the furthest limits, and ended up triumphant.

As a reward for this family’s incredible faith, Allah sent down the archangel Gabriel to redeem Ishmael with a magnificent ram that was slaughtered in his stead, and Abraham was given glad tidings of another righteous son who would also become a great prophet; namely, Isaac. This was how Abraham deserved to become the father of many great nations with whom Allah kept His everlasting covenant. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, and all prophets, the most faithful and most patient humans who ever walked the surface of this earth. These events are celebrated every year by Muslims on the day known in the west as the Greater Bairam.

For the complete story, and to clear up the remaining gaps discussed earlier, we need to read what Bukhari recorded about Ishmael’s story as taught by Prophet Muhammad.

Companion Ibn ‘Abbās said:

“The first lady to use a girdle was the mother of Ishmael. She used a girdle so that she might hide her tracks from Sarah. Abraham brought her and her son Ishmael while she was suckling him, to a place near the Ka‘bah under a tree on the spot of Zamzam, at the highest place in the mosque. During those days, no one was living yet in Makkah, nor was there any water. Abraham made them sit over there and placed near them a leather 141

bag containing some dates, and a water-skin containing some water. Thereafter, he setout homewards. Ishmael’s mother ran after him saying, ‘O Abraham! Where are you going leaving us in this (barren) valley where none resides nor is there anything?’

She continued to ask him, but he did not respond or look at her. Seeing that, she asked him, ‘ Has Allah ordered you to do this?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ She said, ‘Then He shall not waste us,’ and returned while Abraham proceeded onwards. On reaching a place where she could not see him, he turned and faced the place where he left them, raised both hands, and invoked upon Allah saying, ‘O Lord! I have left part of me to dwell in that (barren) valley, beside Your sacred house, that they may offer prayers perfectly and worship you alone. So fill some hearts among the people with love towards them, and provide them with provisions, that they may give thanks continuously.’

Ishmael’s mother continued to give suckling to Ishmael while she drank from the water skin. When the water had all been used up, she became thirsty and her child also became thirsty. Seeing her baby twisting in agony, she got up searching for someone who could help. She saw that the hill of Safa was the nearest hill. She ascended it and started looking at the valley hoping to see anyone, but no one was there. So she descended from Safa, tucked up her robe and ran in the valley in distress. She crossed it and reached Marwah hill. She ascended Al-Marwah and looked around; still, she could not see anybody.

She repeated that (running between Safa and Marwah hills) seven times hoping to find a caravan or some traveler passing by who might help her. Prophet Muhammad explained that this was the source of the tradition which Muslims follow by walking between the two hills (i.e. Safa and Marwah). When Lady Hagar reached Marwah hill the last time, she heard a voice, so she listened attentively. She heard the voice again, so she shouted loudly: ‘Whoever you may be! You have made me hear your voice, have you got something to help me with?’ And behold! She saw the archangel at the place of Zamzam, in the form of a man hitting the earth with his heel, till water flowed from that place. She used the sand to make a basin around it with her hands. She drank and filled her water skin.

The Prophet said, ‘May Allah bestow Mercy on Ishmael’s mother! Had she let Zamzam flow without trying to control it, it would have become a huge stream flowing on the surface of the earth.’ The Prophet further added, “She drank and suckled her child.

The angel said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid of being forgotten, for this is the place of the House of Allah which will be built by this boy and his father. Allah never wastes its inhabitants.’

Lady Hagar stayed in that place till some people from the tribe of Jurhum (i.e. Arabs from Yemen) passed by coming through the way of Kada’ (i.e. a desert road in Arabia).

They landed in the lower lands of Makkah where they saw a bird whose species have the habit of flying around water. They said: ‘This bird must be flying around water, though we know that there is no water in this valley.’ They dispatched a man who discovered the source of the water, and they approached it. Lady Hagar was sitting beside the water spring. They asked her, ‘Do you allow us to stay with you?’ She replied, ‘Yes, but you will have no right to possess the water.’ They agreed to that. Lady Hagar enjoyed people’s company so she was pleased with this development. They settled there, and later on, they sent for their families who came and settled with them. With time, some families became permanent residents of the place. Ishmael grew up and learnt Arabic from them.

His virtues made them love and admire him so much. When he reached the age of puberty, they gave him for marriage a bride from among them. Later on, after she had witnessed her son grow and become a man, Lady Hagar died.

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Then it happened that Abraham came visiting after Ishmael’s marriage but Ishmael wasn’t home. When he asked Ishmael’s wife about him, she replied, ‘He’s out seeking after means of livelihood.’ He asked her about their conditions, and she replied, ‘ We are living in misery, we are living in hardship and destitution,’ and complained to him. He said,

‘When your husband returns, convey to him my salutations and tell him to change the gate of his house.’

When Ishmael returned, he felt something unusual, so he asked his wife, ‘Has anyone visited you today?’ She replied, ‘Yes, an old man of so-and-so description came and asked about you, and about our conditions, so I told him that we were living in hardship and poverty.’ On hearing that Ishmael said, ‘Did he leave me any advice?’ She said, ‘Yes, he told me to convey his salutation to you and to tell you to change the gate of your house.’

Ishmael said, ‘That was my father, and he has ordered me to divorce you. Return to your family.’ He divorced her and married another woman from among the same tribe.

Abraham stayed away for as long as Allah willed then called on Ishmael again but did not find him. So he visited Ishmael’s wife and asked her about him. She said, ‘He’s out in search for means of livelihood.’ Abraham asked her about their conditions, and she replied, ‘We are prosperous and well-off.’ And then she thanked Allah.

Abraham said, ‘What kind of food do you eat?’

She said. ‘Meat.’

He said, ‘What kind of drink do you have?’

She said, “Water.”

He said, ‘O Allah! Bless their meat and water.’”

Prophet Muhammad explained, “At that time, they didn’t have grains. If they had any, he would have also invoked Allah to bless it.” The Prophet added, “If anyone has only these two for sustenance, his health would be negatively affected unless he lives in Makkah.”

The Prophet continued, “Then Abraham said to Ishmael’s wife, ‘When your husband returns, convey to him my regards and tell him that he should hold firmly onto his gate.’

When Ishmael came back, he asked his wife, ‘Did anyone come visiting?’

She replied, ‘Yes, a decent old man came,’ she praised him and added, ‘he asked about you and about our conditions. I told him that we were enjoying a good prosperous life.’

Ishmael asked her, ‘Did he leave me any advice?’

She said, ‘Yes, he sends you his regards and orders you to keep the gate of your house.’

On hearing that Ishmael said, ‘That was my father, and you are the gate. He has ordered me to hold on to you.’

Abraham stayed away for a while, and called on them again. He saw Ishmael sitting under a tree near Zamzam sharpening his arrows. When he saw his father, he got up to welcome him. They hugged each other like fathers and sons do.

Abraham said, ‘O Ishmael! Allah has given me an order.’

Ishmael said, ‘O father, carryout what your Lord commands you to do.’

Abraham asked, ‘Will you help me?’

Ishmael replied, ‘I will help you.’

Abraham said, ‘Allah ordered me to build a sacred house here,’ pointing to a hillock higher than the land surrounding it. The Prophet added, ‘They raised the foundations of the House (i.e. the Ka‘bah). Ishmael brought the stones and Abraham put them in place.

When the walls became high, Ishmael brought a large stone and placed it for Abraham who stood over it and continued building while Ishmael continued handing him the stones.

Both of them were repeating, ‘O our Lord! Accept (this deed) from us, Verily, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’ ” [Recorded by Bukhari].

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From the above narration, we learn that when Abraham took Hagar his wife and her son Ishmael to Makkah (the Bible calls it Pharan, this shall be discussed in details in the next chapter), Ishmael was still a baby, not even weaned yet, which now makes sense and explains the previous verses of Genesis. Abraham was ordered to do so by Allah.

There was no orders from Lady Sarah; there was no mockery from Ishmael—who was still a baby—towards the still unborn Isaac; there was no injustice; and most importantly, there was no taking sides nor racism from Allah, the Lord of all people. On the contrary, Allah never left the helpless woman or her child for a single moment, but was preparing the boy for the destiny which the archangel foretold his mother earlier: that he will be the father of a great nation. Abraham visited them from time to time. He did not forsake them completely, but he entrusted them to Allah, and fulfilled his duty towards his son.

The story of sacrifice recorded in the Qur’an occurred in those years. The previous tradition is just a record of how, when, and where, the sacred mosque in Bakkah was built.

After they succeeded in their trials as mentioned earlier, Allah fulfilled His promise by making the place where Ishmael lived, the place of Allah’s sacred house and of pilgrimage. Ishmael helped Abraham build the sacred house (Ka‘bah) in Makkah amidst the valley called Bakkah. Ishmael’s brother, Isaac, also became the father of another great nation to fulfill Allah’s promise to Abraham in [Genesis (17:4)], that he will be the father of many great nations. When Abraham died, Ishmael and Isaac P.B.U.T. buried him together as told in Genesis, where it says:

(25:8) Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full [of years,] and was gathered to his people. (25:9) And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah………….

Regarding the vast difference between the narratives of the Bible and those of the Qur’an, Allah says in the Qur’an, “Do you [Faithful believers] entertain [yourselves with] the hope that they (i.e. the sons of Israel) will believe in you? In spite that a party of them heard the Word of Allah, and distorted it knowingly after they understood it. Behold!

When they meet those who have believed, they say, ‘We believe.’ But when they meet each other [in private], they say, ‘Shall you tell them what Allah has revealed to you [about the description and qualities of Prophet Muhammad], that they may engage you in argument about it before your Lord? Have you no understanding?’ Know they not that Allah knows what they conceal and what they reveal? And there are among them those who are not learned, who know not the Book, but [rely upon false] desires, and they do nothing but conjecture. Then woe to those who write the Book with their own hands, and then say, ‘This is from Allah,’ to traffic with it for miserable price! Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby. And they say, ‘The Fire shall not touch us but for a few numbered days.’ Say [O Muhammad], ‘Have you taken a promise from Allah, for He never breaks His promise? Or is it that you say about Allah what you do not know?’ Nay, those who seek gain in evil, and are girt round by their sins, they are residents of the hell Fire: Therein shall they abide [Forever]. But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are residents of the paradise. Therein shall they abide

[Forever]. And remember We took a covenant from the Children of Israel [saying],

‘Worship none but Allah, treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need, speak fair to the people, be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity.’ Then you turned away [from my orders], except a few among you, and you backslide [even now]. And remember We took your covenant [saying], ‘Shed no blood 144

amongst you, nor turn out your own people from your homes,’ and you solemnly ratified this, and to this you bore witness. After this it is you, the same people, who slay among yourselves, and banish a party of you from their homes, assist [Their enemies] against them, in guilt and rancor, and if they come to you as captives, you ransom them, though it was already forbidden on you to banish them. Then do you believe in a part of the book

[scripture], and you reject the rest? So what is the retribution for those among you who behave like this, but disgrace in this life and on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For Allah is not unaware of what you do.

These are the people who have bought this worldly life at the price of the Hereafter, their torment shall not be lightened nor shall they be helped.” [The Qur’an (2:75-86)].

When Muslims say that Allah is exalted above practicing any kind of racism against His own creation. When Muslims deny the claims that Allah only chooses His prophets from the lineage of Israel, as Jews claim, and when they say that Allah sent Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H. to correct these false teachings and deliver to all people Allah’s final law and true teachings that confirm part of the previous messages and correct the distorted parts, many from the people of the book decline and refuse listening. Some even tell Muslims,

“If what you say is true then it’s not our fault, for it wasn’t us who corrupted the teachings of Allah but our ancestors; hence, this will be our excuse on the judgment day. We are just holding on to our message as it has reached us.”

Well, to those I say, “You’re wrong, for Allah created us as intelligent beings.

He perfected our creation by bestowing upon us the bliss of being able to think, learn, and deduce the truth of all things. You built your faith on the idea that you are Allah’s chosen people above others no matter what you do and what sins you make, which could only mean that God is an unjust racist. Absolutely, this is wrong for any reasonable human being. Allah did choose from among you many prophets, but these prophets were mainly sent to guide you, which only means that you were disobedient most of the time.

Allah sends his prophets to guide those who have gone astray and lost track of the correct path to him, and not as you interpret it to be, that Allah has favored you above all nations.

Only those who are pious and work their reason and logic to get to know their creator dedicating themselves to the truth are God’s true servants.”

Their rejection and distortion of the truth is even testified for in their own holy books in Isaiah’s visions (48:1-11) where it says:

Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel— but not in truth or righteousness— you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city and claim to rely on the God of Israel— the Lord Almighty is his name: I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known, then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. For I knew how stubborn you were, your neck muscles were iron, and your brows were brass. Therefore I told you these things long ago, before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, ‘My images brought them about, my wooden image and metal god ordained them.’ You have heard these things, look at them all. Will you not admit them? “From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago, you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, 145

‘Yes, I knew of them.’ You have neither heard nor understood, from of old your ears have not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are, you were called a rebel from birth. For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath, for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely. See, I have refined you, though not as silver, I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed and I will not yield my glory to another?

When reading the history of the children of Israel, we can find many instances when they have declined and turned away from what Allah ordered them to do. Only one but very significant example as told in “Exodus” chapter 32, when they worshiped the calf after Allah had just split the sea and saved them from Pharaoh and his army, who were drowned before the Jews’ eyes for not believing prophet Moses P.B.U.H. and denying all the signs he showed them. Any person in the Jews’ place and in such a situation couldn’t but drop down on his face and worship Allah for this grace, but not the children of Israel.

Those gallants took the chance that Prophet Moses P.B.U.H. left for 40 nights as appointed to him by Allah, and during his absence, they turned away from worshipping Allah, made a statue of a calf with their own hands, and worshipped it. Well, I say to the Jews of today, the persons who didn’t hesitate to exchange their God and creator with a calf’s statue that they made with their own hands, are surely capable of distorting God’s holy books and tampering with His words for whatever they see more convenient for their desires. When they found that they had to obey and listen to a prophet who is not from their own lineage, they simply denied his Prophethood. Even the Israelite prophet who was sent to rectify their path and correct the corruptions which their rabbis had made, they denied his prophethood and tried to kill him.

Regarding this Allah says in the Qur’an:

“We gave Moses the Book and followed him up with a succession of messengers, We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear [Signs] and strengthened him with the holy spirit [Gabriel].

Is it that whenever there comes to you a messenger with what you yourselves desire not, you grew arrogant? Some you called impostors, and others you slay! They say, ‘Our hearts are the wrappings [which preserve Allah’s Word, we need no more].’ Nay, Allah’s curse is on them for their blasphemy. Little is it they believe. And when there comes to them a Book from Allah, confirming what is with them, although aforetime they had invoked Allah for victory against those without Faith, and when there comes to them that which they [should] have recognized, they refuse to believe in it so let the curse of Allah be on those rejecting Faith. Miserable is the price for which they have sold their souls, by denying [the revelation] which Allah has sent down grudging that Allah reveals of His Grace unto whom he wills of His servants. Thus have they drawn on themselves Wrath upon Wrath. And for the disbelievers there is disgracing torment. And when it is said to them, ‘Believe in what Allah Has sent down,’ they say, ‘We believe in what was sent down to us,’ yet they reject all besides, even if it be the Truth confirming what is with them. Say

[O Muhammad], ‘Why then have you slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if you did indeed believe?’ There came to you Moses with clear [Signs], yet you worshipped the calf [Even] after that, and you did behave wrongfully. And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you the Tor Mount [Saying], ‘Hold firmly to what We have given you, and hearken [to the Law].’ They said, ‘We hear, and we disobey.’

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And their hearts absorbed the worship of the calf because of their Faithlessness. Say,

‘Vile indeed are the behests of your Faith if you have any faith!’ Say to them, ‘If the Home of the hereafter, with Allah, is indeed for you, and not for anyone else of mankind, then seek for your death, if you are sincere.’ But they will never seek for death, on account of the [sins] which their hands have [done and] sent on before them. And Allah is all aware of the wrong doers. You will indeed find them, of all people, most greedy of life, even more than the idolaters. Each one of them wishes He could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him from [due] punishment. For Allah sees well all that they do.” [The Qur’an (2:87-96)]

And Allah also says:

“Indeed Allah took the covenant of the Children of Israel and We appointed among them twelve chieftains: and Allah said: I am with you if you perform the prayers and pay the poor due, and believe in My messengers and support them, and lend unto Allah a good loan, surely I shall remit your sins, and shall admit you into gardens underneath which rivers flow. But if any among you disbelieves after this, he has indeed gone astray from the straight path. So because of their breaking their covenant, We have cursed them and made their hearts grow hard. They change the words from their [correct] places and they abandoned a good part of the Message that was sent to them. You will not cease to discover deceit in them, except a few of them. So forgive them and overlook

[their misdeeds]. Verily Allah loves the good-doers.” [The Qur’an (5:12-13)]

May Allah guide their youths to the truth and save them from what their forefathers have done, Amen.

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