By Mujahedulla Khan
All praise, thanks, respect, and glory be to Allah (swt), the One and Only, as Allah Himself says, Innal Iazzatha lillahi jameeya. Further, all Salath wa Salam be upon our prophet Muhammad (pbuh) whom Allah Himself praises as the best of all characters (Khulkhun Azeem) and as the best of role models in the entire Universe (Uswathun Hasana).
The Instinct to Follow
The newborn baby gets much care, love, and affection from the mother. This child rightly feels completely safe, well protected, and very comfortable in the arms of the mother; this is a very natural instinct for any species.
Gradually, as he or she grows up and tries to learn from the environment, this child is inspired by his or teacher, who generously doles out knowledge. The child tries to embrace the teacher’s teachings and follow his or her guidance. This is also a natural phenomenon— it’s considered a healthy social instinct to follow someone, accepting him or her as a role model, be it parents, teachers, or surrounding signs from Allah (swt).
A Rasool for Every Tribe
Allah (swt) didn’t just create human beings and leave them in the world to find the true path of life on their own; from time to time He sent down His revelations. To explain them He sent prophets to show us the right and true path.
Hence, Allah (swt) Himself says that He has sent a guide (Hadi) in the form of a true Prophet, or Rasool, for each and every tribe that has ever existed. Allah (swt) Himself says this in the Holy Qur’an (Li Kulli Qaumin Had– “for every tribe there has been a guide”).
Responding appropriately to the needs of the tribes, their limited knowledge, and their learning capacity, Allah (swt) sent for them a true prophet. According to the Sunan, the sayings of our beloved prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Allah (swt) has sent upon earth more than 124,000 prophets or rasools. However, in the Holy Book Al-Qur’an Allah (swt) has mentioned by name only 25 Prophets and Rasools.
A Rasool for Humanity
After several prophets came and guided their own tribes and groups, the people gained a little knowledge. Finally a period came when a prophet was required for all of humanity. The last Prophet was sent to the Arabian peninsula, to the illiterate, primitive peoples of Arabia.
Back then the Arabs worshipped each and every powerful thing that came before them. They were so brutal and cruel that they killed their own female infants and even buried them alive immediately after they were born. In such an unlawful community, Allah (swt) sent to them His last Rasool, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), whom He Himself gave the title of Khatimun Nabiyeen (the last of His prophets).
Allah (swt) has bestowed all superb qualities on our Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) He is not only Kamil (complete) but Akmal (perfect in all aspects), with a superlative degree of Kamal. No other man on the face of this earth is born with such a high profile character (Khulqe Azeem). Muhammed (pbuh) had the most beautiful Uswathun Hasana (best moral character) this world has ever seen.
We Muslims are most lucky and fortunate to be in the ummat of Muhammad (pbuh), to which many prime Ambiah aspire, whom Allah (swt) sent upon this Universe as His last nabi, the (Khatimun Nabiyeen). Prophet Muahmmad (pbuh) preached Deen-e-Islam, the true guidance and the perfect “Art of Living’. Allah (swt) Himself in His Qur’an called Islam the “only way of life” (Indallai Islamu deena).
A Comprehensive Scripture
The Qur’an covered each and every subject required by people to lead their lives from Mahad to Lahad (from cradle to grave). Allah (swt) described how one should live, behave, learn, earn, save, and spend as long as he or she lives on this earth. His messenger prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was bestowed with the best of knowledge, learning, training, and the best qualities that could be seen in a human role model. Muhammad (pbuh) is the ideal model to the entire human race for all ages.
Once the companions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came in a group to Hazrath Ayesha (ra) and requested her to narrate to them the high qualities of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). She asked the people, Have you not read the holy Qur’an? The entire Book speaks about the qualities of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The Power of the Obedient, the Weakness of the Disobedient
When the Arabian people embraced Islam and followed Muhammad (pbuh), the Sirajam Munirah (a lamp enlightening other lamps) who imparted them with the knowledge of scripture, they became enlightened. In the company of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), a drastic change came in their lifestyles and they came to rule over a major part of the world.
As long as they were following the Kitab wa Sunnah, they were in the light. When they deviated from it, Allah snatched power from them; they were divided into groups and scattered all over the world with no proper leadership.
“Have I Taught You or Not?”
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked all the people present on Haj with him whether he had taught them the teachings of Islam or not. When all of them had accepted that he had rightly taught them, he pointed his index finger toward them and said be a witness upon this for me.
Then he pointed his index finger toward the sky and asked Allah (swt) to be his witness in the life hereafter. He said Allahumma Ashhud, O’ Allah be my witness in this cause. Then he said to his people, I am leaving behind two things for you, 1) the holy Qur’an and (2) my Sunnah. You will succeed as long as you follow these two things.
He ordered the people who were present there to convey his teaching to those who were not present. He said Ballighu Anni walau al Aaya— “spread the knowledge you’ve gained through me even though it’s just one minor sentence.”
May Allah (swt) the most gracious bless us with hidaya (showing the right path) and make us follow Quran and Sunnah in every walk of our lives and make Muhammad (pbuh) our ideal and role model. This is the only peaceful solution for all of humanity.
Aameen wal hamdu lillahi rabbil Alameen.
(Mujahedulla Khan works for Understand Quran Academy, in Hyderabad, India.)
MashaAllah, congratulations on putting up a very succinct article on the beloved Prophet SAW. Barak Allah u fee kum.
Assalam Alaikum Dr. Kamran Shafi
Thanks for reading Muhammad My Ideal – Jazakallahu Khair wa Khairan Katheerah
Masha allah very patently written ..abt out prophet (pbuh)……
Mashallah ,brother has written very nicely we pray to Allah subhanahu tala that every child ‘s ideal must be prophet (pbuh) then only this umma will give an example to kafir
By the way was Mr. Kamran Shafi weekly columnist of the daily Dawn? I used to read his weekly column alongwith otherr columnists.
I pray that all Muslims should read this articulate and emulate to become a good Muslim. Also make copies of this beatiful artice and distribute in school and colleges for enlightening the hearts of specially the young generatio. Hope and I shall try Insha Alla
May Allah reward you for this beautiful piece of work. I would like to comment on the fact that very few Arabs used to bury their daughters alive.But when people talk about this issue (wa'ed) they make seem as if all the Arabs they used to bury all their daughters. I don't think that is so. Otherwise the Arab ought cease to exist due to the rareness of the women. Assalamu alaikum
Jazakllah Khair..
Great and Fantastic Article.
salaam
allhummaftah sadruk and speach a lot about tawheed and sunnah , jazakallhau ahsanal jazaa
We all have our weaknesses, some are born with less problem and they have ample time to read and memorize the quran, but for some of us, we struggle every day to make ends meet for ourselves and for our 9 or 10 defendants. Your son grown up does not want to work, and you cannot send him out. I think everyone of the African family should know Islam well to guide them to the truth and correct life style. May Allah Guide us All AAmeen
MASHALLAH
excellent sunnah
Thanks very much for this message may Allah(swt) increase us in knowledge that will benefit us in this world and the aljenna
Masha Allah, Great Article.