RayOfHope 2002-05

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

May-Jun 2002

A Journal By The Students Of Darul Uloom Sabeelus Salam, Hyderabad, India

Visit www.scribd.com/musarhad for more articles on Islaam.

_____________________________________________________________________________ Vol.1 No.4 Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423 A.H. May-Jun 2002 PATRON: MAULAANAA RIZWAN AL QASMI ADVISORY BOARD

Under the guidance of: Master Ameeruddin Sb Chief Editor: Noamaan Bader Editor: Syed Rashid Hussain Sub-Editor: Shamsul Islam

Maulaanaa Akhtar Imaam Aadil Sb Qasmi Ml Abdul Basit Sb Nadvi Ml Khursheed Anvar Sb Nadvi Madani Ml Md Ayyub Sb Siddiqi Nadvi

C O N T E N T S Muhammad ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬: the benefactor of humanity Sayings of Prophet Muhammad

Noamaan Bader

2

Md Jamaluddin

3

Syed Rashid Hussain

4

4

Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬in the eyes of NonMuslims Major events in the life of Prophet Muhammad

Shamsul Islam

5

5

Teachings of Prophet ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻳﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻡ‬

Wasi Akhtar Nadvi

7

1 2 3

1

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

May-Jun 2002

Editorial

Muhammad ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻳﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻡ‬: The Benefactor Of Humanity

Noamaan Bader

Allaah created man for a noble purpose: to worship Him and lead a virtuous life based on His teaching and guidance. How would man know his role and purpose of his existence unless he received clear and practical instructions of what Allaah wants him to do? Here comes the need for prophethood. Thus Allaah had chosen from every nation a prophet or more to convey His message to people.

Prophethood is Allaah’s blessing and favour that He may bestow on whom He wills. Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬was indeed prepared to carry the prophetic message unto all the races of mankind. He was equipped to carry the message of the most perfect religion, to e the final conclusion of prophethood, the unique light of guidance for ever and ever.

The religion preached by the last prophet ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬is as much perfect, ever-abiding and universal as are his own life and character perfect models of goodness and virtue for all the people and for all times to come. Through him, the human spirit embarks on a voyage of adventure, acquires a new culture and light, wins a mastery over nature, and finds a key to unlock the secrets of the material world. In him resides the collective instinct of the whole human race. He makes no distinction between the Gentile and the Jew, the Arab and the non-Arab, the black and the white, the poor and the rich. His prophetic vision ranges the entire gamut of human history when he warns mankind against worshipping the idols of Caste, Colour and Race: “The Arab is not superior to the non-Arab; the non-Arab is not superior to the Arab. You are all sons of Adam, and Adam was made of earth. Verily, all Muslims are brothers. You are all members of one common brotherhood … If a deformed Abyssinian slave holds authority over you and leads you according to the Book of Allaah, hear and obey him.” Nowhere have the Muslims ethics of democracy and equality been as tersely summarized as in this, the last sermon of the Prophet. In the annals of mankind there is none save Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬to deal a stunning blow to the racial antipathy that has proved the bane of Western civilization. It is due to his teachings that Muslims have never known the problem.

Bilaal ‫ﺭﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻨﻪ‬, the Negro slave, becomes the first muezzin of Islaam and is respected and loved by the aristocratic Quraish.

2

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

May-Jun 2002

Indeed, Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬deserves the unique credit of creating a social order which knows not the meaning of class distinction and proclaims the principle of the brotherhood of man. Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬alone is the savior of the modern world as his religion condemns the vested interests of caste, colour and race, and is absolutely free from every sort of class exploitation. He left a new system of law, which dispensed impartial justice, in which even the head of the state was as much a subject to it as any commoner, and in which religious tolerance was so great that non-Muslim inhabitants of Muslim countries equally enjoyed complete judicial and cultural autonomy. Above all, Prophet Muhammad ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ‬ ‫ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬set a noble example and fully practiced all that he taught to others. § § § § § § § § § §

Sayings Of Prophet Muhammad ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻳﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻡ‬

Md Jamaluddin Intentions: Deeds are by intentions. Everyone shall have that which he intended. (Bukhaaree 1) The natural state: Every human being is born on the nature (that is, incorrupt and believing in one God). It is his parents who Judaize him, Christianize him or Zoroastrianize him.

(Bukhaaree 1270) Hypocrisy: These three are the signs of a hypocrite, even if he fasts, prays and asserts that he is a Muslim: when he speaks, he lies; when he promises, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he deceives. (Muslim 89-90, 1/112-115) Islaam: (The house of) Islaam rests on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god but Allaah and Muhammad is His bondman and prophet, establishment of prayers, payment of zakaah (obligatory charity), (performance of) Haj, and (observation of) Ramazaan fasts.’ (Muslim 21, 1/20) Waste of time: It is the sign of a man’s excellent faith that he does not indulge in that which is not of his concern. (Tirmizee 2239) § § § § § § § § § §

3

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

May-Jun 2002

Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻳﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻡ‬In The Eyes Of Non-Muslims

Syed Rashid Hussain Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬is Allaah’s greatest creation and was sent as a mercy to all kind. A thousand million Muslims however do not require any survey, listing or research to arrive at this obvious conclusion. Surprisingly, over the centuries many an eminent non-Muslims have rated Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬most highly and given due recognition to his greatness. A selection of their quotations appears in this article.

“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 secular and religious level. … It is probable that the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul on Christianity. .. It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.” (Michael Hart, The 100, a ranking of the most influential persons in history, New York) “He must be called the Saviour of Humanity. 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 much needed peace and happiness.”

(George Bernard Shaw, The genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol.1, No.8, 1936) “Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Conqueror of Ideas, Restorer of rational beliefs … 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 turque, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277) “Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him.” (D. C. Sharma, The prophets of the east, Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12) § § § § § § § § § §

4

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

May-Jun 2002

Major Events In The Life Of Prophet Muhammad ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻳﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻡ‬

Shamsul Islam

PART 1: EVENTS BEFORE PROPHETHOOD (* Here ‘1’ stands for the first year since Prophet’s ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬birthday, and so on.)

DATE*

50 or 55 days after the failure of Ka’bah expedition of Abrahah, the Christian governor of Yemen, Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬is born

1

On the same day, a terrible earthquake rocks the capital of the Persian empire, leading to the collapse of fourteen towers of the palace of the Chosroes of Persia Prophet’s mother Aaminah passes away at Al Abwaa’ during her return journey from Madeenah to Makkah Prophet’s grandfather Abdul Muttalib leaves for his eternal home at the age of 82 Prophet marries Khadeejah ‫ﺭﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﺎ‬ Muhammad ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬, the truthful and trustworthy, becomes Allaah’s last and greatest prophet

1

DATE (CE) 570 (or 20Apr 571)) 570

6

576

8

578

25 Monday 17 Ramazaan 40 1

595 6 Aug 610

DATE** 3

DATE (CE) 613

5

615

6 7

617

EVENTS

0F

PART 2: EVENTS AFTER PROPHETHOOD (** Here ‘1’ stands for the first year of prophethood and so on.)

EVENTS General invitation to Islaam by Prophet ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬on the hill of Safaa Eleven men and five women migrate to Abyssinia (Habshah). This is known as the “first hijrah (migration) to Habshah” Umar ‫ ﺭﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻨﻪ‬accepts Islaam Muslims are socially and economically boycotted and are confined in the Valley of Aboo Taalib for three years Aboo Taalib and Khadeejah leave for their heavenly abode Prophet visits Taaif to visit Islaam 1

According to Ibn Kaseer and Muhammad bin Is-haaq

5

10 Shawwaal 10

620

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

May-Jun 2002

The event of Mi’raaj takes place i.e. Prophet miraculously ascends to the heavens and returns to his home the same night Twelve men of Yasrib take part in the First Pledge of ‘Aqabah Seventy-three men and two women of Yasrib take part in the Second Pledge of ‘Aqabah Prophet migrates to Madeenah. This event is known as Hijrah (migration) to Madeenah

11

621

12

621

13

622

11 Rabee’-ul Awwal 13

20 Sep 622

PART 3: EVENTS AFTER HIJRAH (*** Here ‘1’ stands for the first year of Hijree calendar) EVENTS The construction of Al Masjid-un Nabawee takes place The historic battle of Badr takes place Prophet’s ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬daughter Faatimah is married to ‘Alee ‫ﺭﺿﻲ ﷲ ﻋﻨﻬﻤﺎ‬ Battle of Uhud takes place

DATE*** 1

DATE (CE)

Fri 17 Ramazaan 2 Zul Hijjah 2

13 Mar 624 Jun 624

15 Shawwaal 3

~31 Mar 625

70 Muslims are martyred treacherously at Bi’r Ma’oonah

4

Battle of Ditch or Siege of Confederates takes place Treaty of Hudaibiyah takes place Muslims perform ‘Umrat-ul Qazaa Great Conquest of Makkah takes place

Shawwaal-Zul Qa’dah 5 Zul Qa’dah 6 Zul Qa’dah 7 Ramazaan 8

Tabook expedition takes place

Rajab 9

Farewell Pilgrimage takes place

Zul Hijjah 10

Prophet ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬parts from this earthly life

Monday 12 Rabee’-ul Awwal 11

Note: ~ means that the date is approximate.

6

Feb-Mar 627 Mar 628 Mar 629 Dec 629Jan630 Oct-Dec 630 Feb-Mar 632 8 Jun 632

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

7

May-Jun 2002

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

May-Jun 2002

Teachings Of Prophet ‫ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻳﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻡ‬

Wasi Akhtar Nadvi (Kulliyat-ul Hadeeth)

Prophet Muhammad ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬came to this world with a great mission of preaching the true religion of Allaah i.e. Islaam, to the entire humanity. As he was the greatest prophet, so were his teachings. His teachings and message were undoubtedly an antidote to all vice and evil.

The first and fundamental teaching of Prophet Muhammad was Tauheed i.e. belief in Oneness of God which implies rejection of all false gods and goddesses.

He taught the Muslims to believe in his prophethood and to obey all the commands of Allaah that were sent to the humanity through him.

He laid great stress on the regular compulsory prayers five times a day in which a Muslim stands before his Lord, glorifies Him, thanks Him for His innumerable gifts and bounties, admits his faults and shortcomings, seeks forgiveness for his sins and transgressions and beseeches his Lord to guide him to the straight path of piety and righteousness.

Prophet ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬commanded the Muslims to observe fasts in the holy month of Ramazaan and to observe other forms of prayers, seeking the Divine pleasure. He asked the economically sound Muslims to spend a stipulated portion of their wealth in charity and to perform the Pilgrimage (Haj) at least once in lifetime.

8

The Ray of Hope

Rabee’-ul Awwal 1423

May-Jun 2002

Prophet ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬raised the status of women and orphans and granted

them their due rights. Women were given a share in the inheritance – a right denied to them till then. The Muslims were enjoined to respect their mother and to be at her beck and call. Similarly, due rights were allocated to sisters, wives, etc.

Prophet ‫ ﺻﻠﻰ ﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ‬urged the Muslims to look after the needs of the poor and the needy and to spend as much as possible, in addition to the compulsory amount of charity (Zakaah) for their welfare and upliftment.

He strictly forbade all sorts of frauds, deceptions and unfair dealings in all sorts of business and trade. He prohibited all sorts of professions and trades harmful to the society, e.g. interest and usury, lotteries, etc.

Unlawful killing, theft, robbery, adultery, fornication, slandering, use of alcoholic drinks and other intoxicants etc. were strictly forbidden by him and he laid down proper punishment for these crimes and evils.

In short, Prophet Muhammad’s teachings have all the good elements and are devoid of all shortcomings. This teaching has the ability to establish peace and brotherhood in the entire human race – a goal that all other non-divine teachings have failed to achieve.

9