The Birth of a Star

It has been said on the 20^th Day of April 571 of the Christian era a star was born in the desert of Arabia. They called him Muhammad meaning (highly praised).

He was born to save mankind from destruction. He was born to be the last Messenger, the last agent between men and his Lord God. He was born to save and deliver mankind to his destiny. His message was the truth, the truth that all mankind, knowingly or unknowingly were waiting for. At last it happened. All praise be to the Lord God of the Universe (Allah).

When Muhammad was born, Arabia was nothing more than a desert – a nothing. Out of nothing, a new world were fashioned by the mighty spirit of Muhammad – a new life, a new culture, a new civilisation, a new kingdom, which extended from Morocco to the Indies and influenced the thought and life of three continents – Asia, Africa and Europe and the rest of the world.

Muhammad was born an orphan and raised by his grandfather. When he was eight, he was entrusted to his uncle, who was generous in nature, but short of resources, therefore Muhammad started to earn his livelihood as a shepherd.

Note: like all other prophets.

At the age of around ten he accompanied his uncle on a trading journey to Syria as a caravan leader and thereafter he continued in his trade. By the time he was twenty-five, Muhammad had become well known in and around the city of Makah (the place of birth) for his integrity, disposition and honesty of character and they all called Muhammad Amin the (trustworthy Muhammad). At the age of around twenty-five, Muhammad married a noble rich widow, who brought him joy and happiness.

Note: Muhammad could not read and writes at the time hardly anyone would able to read or write.

At the age of around forty the Revelation came to Muhammad in the same ways that God spoke to all His prophets and messengers.

Later date Qur’an was collected and written as the present Qur’an that Muslims still follow to this day and for ever.

Beginning of Religious Consciousness

Not much is known about the religious practises of Muhammad until he was around thirty-five years old, except that he had never worshipped idols. This is substantiated by all his biographers. It may be stated that there were a few others in Makkah, who had likewise revolted against the senseless practice of paganism, although conserving their fidelity to the Ka’bah as the house dedicated to Allah ^(SWT). It is from this age that Muhammad became more and more absorbed in spiritual meditations and he used to retire for the whole month of Ramadhan to the cave in Jabel-an-Nur (Mountain of Light). The cave is called ‘Ghar-i-Hira’ or the Cave of Research. There he prayed, meditated and shared his meagre provisions with the travellers who happened to pass by.

Revelation

Up to the age of forty, Muhammad was not known as preacher or orator. He was never seen discussing the principles of metaphysics, ethics, law, politics, economics or sociology. There was no doubt that he possessed an excellent character.

He was forty years old, and it was during his fifth annual retreat on a night towards the end of the month of Ramadhan that angel Gabriel came to visit Muhammad, and announced that God had chosen him to be His Messenger to all mankind. The angel taught him how to make ablution, the way of worshipping God and the conduct of prayer. He communicated to him the following Divine message:

• 96:1:“Recite in the name of your Lord who created.”
• 96:2:“Created man from a clot.”
• 96:3:“Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous.”
• 96:4:“Who taught by the pen.”
• 96:5:“Taught man what he knew not.” (Qur’an 96:v1-5)

The Mission Muhammad the Prophet (PBUH)

The mission of Prophet Muhammad ^{(may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him) (PBUH)} was to restore the worship of the One True God, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, as taught by Prophet Ibrahim and all other prophets of God/Lord. His mission was to demonstrate and to complete the laws of moral, ethical, legal, social and political conduct and all other matters of significance for humanity at large.

The Prophet ^(PBUH) began preaching his mission secretly at first among his intimate friends and Families, then among the members of his own tribe and thereafter, publicly in the city and suburbs.

He invited men and women to charity and beneficence.

The necessary steps to preserve and record the revelations were taken by scribes and Muhammad ^(PBUH) also ordered his followers to learn the revelations by heart. This continued for the rest of his sacred life, as the Qur’an was not revealed all at once, but in fragments as the occasion arose over a period of twenty-three years.

The Prophet Muhammad ^(PBUH) was instructed to call this religion “Islam” (submission to the will of God) Quran: ( Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way.  Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way.) Q: 5:3.

Character of the prophet Muhammad

Many times Allah talk about the character of prophet in the Quran

 وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

You are of a great and noble character. Quran 68:4

Narration Hadith:  Sayeed Ibn Hisham said: I saw the mother of believers Aisha R and asked her about the character of Rasuallah and she said his character was the Quran haven’t you read that verse وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ You are of a great and noble character. Quran 68:4

Allah says:  Quran: Surah Al-Ahzab 33:21

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا

“There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.” Quran: 33:21

I say truly anyone who want to be successful in this world and after should go adopt the character of the prophet.

He was a Marcy to me and you my brothers and sister and all mankind, he was so merciful that Allah says about him

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِين

Oh Muhammad we did not send you accept to be a mercy to all mankind. Quran 21:107

Islam has two distinctive features:

1. A harmonious equilibrium between the temporal and the spiritual (body and soul), permitting full enjoyment of the good that God has created, (Qur’an 7:32), as well as enjoying all the same time duties towards God, such as worship, fasting, charity, etc. Islam is to be the religion of the masses and not merely of the elect.
2. A universality of the call – all believers becoming brothers and equals without any distinction between class, race or tongue. The only superiority is a personal one, based on the greater piety (Qur’an 49:v24)

Proof of Muhammad’s ^(PBUH) Prophet-Hood

There are numerous statements that prove that Muhammad ^(PBUH) is a true Prophet and that he is the last Prophet of God.

Among these proofs:

1. Muhammad ^(PBUH) was illiterate. Amongst his people he had always been known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had no prior knowledge of religion or any previously send messages. Revelation then came to Muhammad ^(PBUH) with the Qur’an, the same Qur’an that Muslims still follow to this day and for ever. The Qur’an mentions most of the accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in great detail as if he had witnessed them himself. These accounts are the same as can be found in the Torah send down to Moses ^(AS) and in the Gospel sent down to Jesus ^(AS).
2. Muhammad ^(PBUH) brought an Arabic Qur’an that is the peak of eloquence and clarity. The Qur’an challenged those eloquent and all fluent Arabs of it’s time, who initially believed in him, to bring forth a single chapter like the Qur’an. Those Arabs were unable to produce anything like it.

Indeed to this day, none has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that are equal to or even approach the order, numerically, physically, spiritually, grace, beauty and splendour of the Glorious Qur’an.

3. Human history has not preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life of Prophet Muhammad ^(PBUH), who is the most influential human in history. Nor has the entire earth known of anyone whom every morning and evening and many times thereafter throughout the day, is remembered by those who believe in Allah ^(SWT) and in Muhammad ^(PBUH). Upon remembering Muhammad ^(PBUH), the believers will greet him and ask Allah to bless him.
4. Nor has there ever been a man on earth whose actions and sayings are so closely followed by those who believe in him. Those who believe in Muhammad ^(PBUH), sleep in the manner he slept, purify themselves (through ablution and ritual washing) in the manner he purified himself, adhere to his practice in the way they eat, drink and clothe themselves. Indeed in all aspects of their lives, the followers of Islam adhere to the teachings he spread amongst them and the path that he travelled upon during his life.
5. Since his day, in every region on the earth and during every period, this Noble Prophet has been followed by individuals from all races, colours and backgrounds. Many of those who followed him were previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters or atheists. Among those who chose to follow him were those who were knows for their sound judgement, wisdom, reflection and foresight. They chose to follow this Noble Prophet after they witnessed the signs of his truthfulness and evidence of his miracles. They did not choose to follow Muhammad ^(PBUH) out of compulsion or coercion, or because they had adopted the ways of their fathers and mothers.
6. The legal and creedal make-up of the religion that the Messenger, Muhammad ^{(may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him)} brought, resembles the engineering of the heavens and the earth. All of that indicates that He who created the heavens and the earth is the One Who sent down this great law and upright religion.

The degree of distinctiveness of the Divine law that was sent down upon Muhammad ^(PBUH) is the same as the distinctiveness of Divine creation of the heavens and earth. For, just as humanity cannot create this universe, in the same manner, humanity cannot bring forth a law like Allah’s law that He sent down upon His servant and Messenger, Muhammad ^{(may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him)}.

The principles of universal brotherhood and the doctrine of equality of mankind which Muhammad ^(PBUH) proclaimed represent a very great contribution to the social uplift of humanity.

All great religions have preached the same doctrine, but the Prophet of Islam put this theory into actual practice and its values will be fully recognised, perhaps centuries later, when international consciousness is awakened. Racial prejudices may disappear and greater brotherhood of humanity will hopefully come into existence.