Muhammad (saws): A Role Model for a New Millennium
The human need for role models
Have you ever heard of Moses, Jesus, Confucius, Krishna or the Buddha? How =
about Gandhi, Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King? If you live in the West=
, there's a good chance that you know a bit about these people and their ac=
complishments. In man's eternal search for immortality and meaning, many le=
aders and heroes, both true and false, have made their appearance on the wo=
rld stage. The respect and reverence shown to such figures among people of =
every nationality, in every age, points to a deep human need to believe in =
someone greater than oneself, in an attempt to transcend the confines of on=
e's own limited existence. We see this theme recur in world myths, legends,=
hero stories, and in the idealisation of people who have been raised by th=
eir followers to superhuman or godly status.
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Most educated people today are sceptics,
and view such stories as the charming remnants of a simpler age. And with g=
lobalisation and the steady stream of new religions and ideologies that peo=
ple are exposed to, it may be hard to know what to believe. Some find it ea=
sier to ignore spiritual questions altogether, focusing instead on their re=
lationships, careers and 'getting ahead'. Yet we know that excessive materi=
alism stifles the mind and spirit; despite technological advances, the deep=
yearning to believe in a Higher Power, true leadership, and an ultimate pu=
rpose in life remains. In this day and age, who can be trusted as a guide i=
n both spiritual and worldly matters?
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There is one leader,
still largely unknown to the West, who is an extraordinary role model that =
people of all backgrounds can relate to: the Prophet Muhammad. The details =
of Muhammad's remarkable life have been carefully preserved and have been s=
ubjected to the scrutiny of historians, east and west. In contrast to other=
s who have achieved renown for their accomplishments in a limited sphere of=
activity, Muhammad's achievements span all major areas of life. The histor=
ian Michael H. Hart wrote:
My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential pers=
ons may surprise some readers and be questioned by others, but he was the o=
nly man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and s=
ecular levels. Hart, Michael, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Pe=
rsons in History.
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Why does the average European or American
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know so little about a man whose life was so exceptional? Irrational fears =
and negative propaganda, dating back to the Crusades and exaggerated by the=
media, have created a 'mental block' for many people against all things Ar=
ab or Islamic, and the two terms are often mistakenly confused. As we enter=
the age of the global village, is it not time for those who pride themselv=
es on being unprejudiced, independent thinkers to put aside these mental re=
lics from a bygone era? We invite you to take a few minutes to explore a ne=
w understanding of religious leadership, and in so doing, to catch a glimps=
e of a man who is loved by one-fifth of the people on this planet.
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The concept of Prophethood in Islam
For a Muslim, a Prophet does not primarily imply someone able to foretell t=
he future - although most of Muhammad's predictions have already been fulfi=
lled in astonishing ways - but a man sent by God to call people to repent, =
have faith, and dedicate their lives to doing good, thereby helping them re=
discover the purpose for which they were created. Prophets are not consider=
ed to be Divine, and are not prayed to or worshipped - though they were men=
of outstanding character and spirituality who were protected from committi=
ng sins, performed miracles, received revelation and communed with God. Isl=
am teaches that God is One, without partner or associate; no human being ca=
n share in any of the qualities that are unique to the Intelligent Creator =
and Sustainer of our vast and complex universe. Muhammad was no more than G=
od's honoured servant and Messenger, yet he embodied the best of human pote=
ntial, and that is what continues to make him so appealing and accessible t=
oday. Last in a line of Prophets and Messengers sent by God to all people o=
n earth - including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus - who effected the large=
-scale transformation of individuals and society, Muhammad was unsurpassed =
as teacher and guide. Speaking of his own role as the last true Prophet bef=
ore Judgement Day, he said:
'The parable of me in relation to the Prophets who came before me is that o=
f a man who built a house beautifully and well, except that one brick in it=
s corner was missing. The people went around it and wondered at its beauty,=
but said: "If only that brick were put in its place!" I am that brick, and=
I am the last of the Prophets.'
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Muhammad's personal life
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Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a noble family of Makkah, and was a descenda=
nt of the Prophet Abraham. Orphaned at six, Muhammad was a thoughtful youth=
who worked as a shepherd and helped his uncle with the trade caravans. As =
a teenager he rejected the immoral customs of his people, who had become st=
eeped in idolatry, and joined a chivalrous order, earning the nickname 'The=
Trustworthy'. At age 25 he found employment with a wealthy widow of 40 nam=
ed Khadijah, managing her business. Impressed by his honesty and character,=
Khadijah proposed marriage and he accepted. Despite their age difference, =
they were happily married for 25 years, and were blessed with six children.=
After Khadijah's death Muhammad married several women for political and hu=
manitarian reasons, as was expected of a man of his position; all but one w=
ere widows and divorcees. He was a loving and considerate husband and fathe=
r, and his family was devoted to him despite his voluntary poverty, for he =
put into practice his own advice, 'the best of you is the one who is best t=
o his own family.'
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Muhammad, the Prophet
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Muhammad received his first revelation from God at 40, through the Angel Ga=
briel. He continued to receive revelations for 23 years, on topics ranging =
from the Oneness of God and His wondrous handiwork, to stories of earlier p=
rophets, morality and ethics, and life after death. These revelations becam=
e collectively known as the Qur'an, and are considered by Muslims to be the=
literal word of God; the Prophet's own words were collected separately. Mu=
hammad's call to monotheism and social reform was heavily opposed by the Ma=
kkan elite; after enduring thirteen years of intense persecution, he and hi=
s followers were invited to relocate to Madinah, a town to the north that h=
ad been torn apart by generations of intertribal warfare. Muhammad successf=
ully settled their differences and forged a bond of brotherhood between the=
two warring factions, as well as between the locals and the new emigrants.=
For Arab tribal society, this was an amazing accomplishment. The early Mus=
lims learned to implement the golden rule under the Prophet's tutelage: 'No=
one truly believes until he desires for his brother what he desires for hi=
mself.'
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Muhammad's legacy: the Madinan model
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For Muhammad, religion was not a matter of personal conviction alone but a =
complete way of life, and Madinah flourished under his leadership. The Madi=
nan model of government, based on justice, respect for human dignity and Go=
d-consciousness, became the template to which Muslims have looked for guida=
nce and inspiration ever since. The Prophet drew up the world's first const=
itution in which the rights of religious minorities were protected, and ent=
ered into treaties and alliances with neighbouring tribes. He sent letters =
to the rulers of the Persians, Egyptians, Abyssinians and Byzantines, annou=
ncing his message of pure monotheism and inviting them to accept Islam. For=
the first time in history, women, children, orphans, foreigners and slaves=
were granted extensive rights and protection. Many of the Prophet's concer=
ns seem surprisingly 'modern': he condemned racism and nationalism, saying =
'there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or a white man over a =
black man, except in righteousness.' He established laws protecting animals=
, trees and the environment. He encouraged free trade and ethical investmen=
ts, but secured workers' rights and forbade usury. He worked for peace, but=
defined the parameters of the judicious use of force, when force was neede=
d. He convinced people to give up alcohol, drugs, prostitution and crime, a=
nd promoted healthy living. He condemned domestic violence, encouraged his =
wives to speak their own mind, and granted Muslim women many rights not dre=
amed of in Europe until centuries later, including the right to own propert=
y, reject arranged marriages, and seek divorce because of incompatibility. =
And the Prophet encouraged his followers to seek beneficial knowledge where=
ver it could be found, with the result that Muslims never experienced a con=
flict between science and religion, and led the world in many fields of lea=
rning for centuries afterwards. Although his enduring legacy can be observe=
d in everything from art to politics, Muhammad's greatest achievement by fa=
r was to re-establish pure monotheism. As simple and straightforward to und=
erstand as the nucleus at the centre of an atom, the concept of One God lie=
s at the heart of Islamic culture. Muslims turn to their Creator for guidan=
ce, without the need for intermediaries, or the loss of dignity that idolat=
ry and superstition bring.
The Prophet accomplished all this through the strength of his character and=
personal example; he inspired in his followers a love, devotion and sense =
of awe that was unparalleled. While other men would have been corrupted by =
the absolute power that he wielded in his later years, Muhammad remained hu=
mble, ever aware of the Source of his blessings. 'I am just God's servant,'=
he said, and 'I have only been sent as a teacher.' Although he spent his d=
ays in serving people and his nights in prayer, he preached religious moder=
ation and balance; he forbade his followers to adopt a monastic lifestyle a=
nd preferred that they establish strong families and engage themselves in b=
ettering the world around them, while remaining deeply conscious of God.
In the brief space of one generation and during his own lifetime, the Proph=
et Muhammad* successfully transformed the faith, mentality and culture of t=
he people of Arabia; within 100 years his message had touched the hearts an=
d lives of millions in Africa, Asia and parts of Europe. The Prophet foreto=
ld that each succeeding generation would be worse than the one before it, a=
nd true to his prediction, Muslims have not always understood or honoured h=
is example. But Muhammad's teachings, speeches and customs were carefully n=
oted down by his Companions, and compiled into books of authentic sayings w=
hich are available in translation. Along with the Qur'an, they form the hol=
istic foundation of a satisfying way of life for practising Muslims, while =
for others, they provide a fascinating glimpse into the heart and mind of a=
n exceptional man and role model from whom much can be learned.
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_A_Role_Model_for_a_New_Millennium