THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W)

LIFE BEFORE PROPHETHOOD

Name - Muhammad Mustafa (S.A.W)
Father - Abdullah
Mother - Amina
Grandfather - Abdul-Muttalib
Uncle - Abu Talib
Family Name - Banu Hashim
Tribe - Quraish
Date of Birth - Monday 12th Rabiul-Awwal 571 A.D
Place of Birth - Makkah
Age at the time of Father's death - He was still in his mother's womb
Infancy
a. Bibi Amina gave milk for a couple of days.
b. Abu Lahab's slave girl called Thuwaybah gave milk for a few days.
c. Bibi Haleema gave milk for 4 years.

Age at the time of Mother's death - He was 6 years old.
Age at the time of Grandfather's death - He was 8 years old
The 1st journey to Syria - He was 12 years old in the company of Abu Talib.
The 2nd journey to Syria - He was 25 years old. He went to sell the goods of a rich lady called Khadija.
Marriage - The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) at the age of 25 gets married to Hazrat Khadija (R.A), who is 40 years old.

Children:
2 sons
- Qasim (R.A) (or known as Abdullah R.A)
- Tahir (R.A)
4 daughters
- Fatima
- Zainab
- Ruqayyah
- Umm-e-Kulthoom

Rebuilding the Holy Kabaah - When the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) was 35 years old, the Kaabah was rebuilt by the Quraish. When it was completed, the holy Prophet (S.A.W) placed the Hajar-e-Aswad in its place.
Prophethood - The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) becomes a Prophet at the age of 40.

THE PURE WIVES OF THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W)

AZWWAAJ-E-MUTAH-HARRAT

1. Hazrat Khadija (R.A)
2. Hazrat Aisha (R.A)
3. Hazrat Umm-e-Habibah R.A)
4. Hazrat Zainab bint-e-Jahsh (R.A)
5. Hazrat Juway-riyyah (R.A)
6. Hazrat Zainab bint-e-Khuzaimah (R.A)
7. Hazrat Saw-dah (R.A)
8. Hazrat Hafsa (R.a)
9. Hazrat Umm-e-Salmah (R.A)
10. Hazrat Safiyyah (R.A)
11. Hazrat May-moonah (R.A)

THE ERA OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (610 A.D. to 632 A.D.)

The era of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is an epoch-making period in the whole history of Islam. Characterized by spectacular change, reform and development this period is simply unparalleled in the entire history of humanity. God Almighty sent a long chain of prophets to educate and guide mankind. They did their best to fulfil their noble mission of saving people from evil and of guiding them to the right path. But they achieved very little. They faced severe hostility and opposition in some cases even the entire letter and spirit of their teachings were distorted and disfigured beyond recognition.

The situation was markedly different in the case of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). He too had to face strong opposition, leading to conflicts and confrontations and even pitched battles. But he eventually succeeded in fulfilling his noble mission of bringing about an all round change and development. In fact the creative change that he brought about in all sectors of human thought and behaviour stands simply unique in the whole of human history. The present chapter reviews the major events taking shape from birth to death of that great benefactor of mankind.

BIRTH OF THE BENEFACTOR

Over fourteen centuries ago while spring was in full bloom a lovely baby was born in a famous family of the sacred city of Makkah in the Arabian peninsula. The date was April 22, 571 A.D. According to the local calendar it was 12th Rabi al-Awwal. The "Year of the Elephant". The name of year derives its origin from the historical fact, that during that stormy year Abrahah, the arrogant ruler of Yamen, had invaded the sacred city of Makkah with his army of elephants. His intention was to demolish the age-old building of Holy Kaaba, the Holy House of God. The great legend goes on to say, that right at that time a furious host of swallows swarmed the sky suddenly. They started dropping sharp-edged pebbles incessantly over Abrahah's elephant army. The torrential rain of pointed pebbles was 50 severe that King Abrahah's elephants got panicky. Turning back they started trampling their own men. Abrahah elephant expedition was routed rather completely. He managed to escape to Yemen with great difficulty.

So it was during the Year of the Elephant, which was born, the great baby who shaped the world destiny as he grew up. That lovely baby had already lost his father a few months before his birth. His grandfather, Abd a Muttalib, was the chief of the Quraish, the most honoured tribe of the times; he named the newborn babe as Muhammad. Time went by and baby Muhammad grew into a healthy, honest and hardy youth; impressed with the exceptional calibre of his character and personality a graceful trader lady of Makkah married him. She was Khadijah, the pious.

During the sixth century B.C. the entire Arabian Peninsula had sunk into the deepest depths of degradation. Mental, moral and social deterioration had touched the peaks. The Holy Kaabah was overflowing with all sorts of idols and statues; idolatry had become the order of the day.

BEGINNINGS OF THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH

From his very early years Hadrat Muhammad had developed extreme aversion to the distressing deteriorations marring his surroundings. Cave Hira was situated about three miles away from Makkah. During his youth Muhammad used to frequent that cave to engage in deep meditation.

It so happened that on February 12th, 610 A.D. while he was engrossed as usual in meditation Angel Gibrail visited him. He informed him that God had selected him as His messenger for educating and guiding the entire humanity. After about six months' interval the same angel came to him again at the same time. On that visit the following Quranic verses were revealed to him:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

(1) Recite in the name of your Lord Who created,
(2) Created man out of a blood clot.
(3) Recite! And your Lord is Most Generous,
(4) Who taught by the pen.
(5) Taught man that which he knew not. (96: 1 -5)

This is the first ever revelation in the whole history of the revelation of the Holy Quran.

ISLAMS FIVE FUNDEMENTALS

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was deeply interested in people's education, guidance and salvation right from the very beginning. But after his elevation to prophet hood and the first revelation he started his noble mission with unusual vigour and vitality. Islam is the great religion of humanity that started with Prophet Adam (pbuh). During the age of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Islam became finalised as a comprehensive code of life.

A believer in Islam is known as a Muslim. Every Muslim has to follow five golden principles of life, which form the fundamental pillars of Islam.
They are: -

Shahadatain: declaring and believing in the fact that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah;

Salah: offering the five obligatory prayers everyday:

Zakat: paying 2.5% of one's annual savings for expenditure in God's way.

Saum: fasting from dawn to sunset each day throughout the month of Ramadan.

Hajj: performing the annual pilgrimage to the Holy Kaabah in Makkah at least once in a lifetime.

OPPOSITION TO THE MESSAGE OF TRUTH

In the beginning the size of the Muslim community was very small. They used to pray inside their houses or in quiet and secluded places. After some time the Holy Prophet started preaching in public. When the number of the Muslim; had reached round about 40, the Prophet one day went straight to the Holy Kaabah and preached openly about the doctrine of the Oneness of God. In a quite clear-cut language he told the audience that the only correct and wholesome way of worshipping was praying to the One God rather than bowing before all sorts of man-made idols and gods. The Makkan pagans were already annoyed with his unpalatable preaching programmes. When they found him denouncing their ancestral idols they were greatly incited. A furious gang of pagans then fell upon him. One of his Companions, Hadrat Harith, stepped forward to disengage the unruly attackers; in a fit of frenzy they killed him there and then. This was the first martyr of Islam whose innocent blood was sprinkled over the sacred floor of the Kaabah.

The Holy Prophet felt considerably depressed over the sad incident. But he continued his mission quite undeterred. With the passage of time he went on expanding and intensifying his programmes of mass education and guidance for the Islamic way of life. The pagans too continued mounting their aggression and opposition.

In the whole history of humanity Prophet Muhammad stands out as the only person who was the target of such a long chain of bitter opposition and oppression. The various dangerous devices employed to put an end to his life and his noble mission could be classified under three main categories;

(1) Psychological offensives to defame and demoralise;
(2) Deadly devices to murder;
(3) Bewitching through black magic.

PSYCOLOGICAL OFFENSIVES TO DEFAME AND DEMORALISE

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was an embodiment of honesty and truthfulness; that is why he used to be addressed by the most honoured titles of "The Trustworthy" (Amin) and The Truthful" (Sadiq) right from his early years. But the moment he started preaching Islam he began to be insulted, abused and ridiculed. He was often addressed as "Mudhammam" (blameworthy) instead of his true name, Muhammad that means praiseworthy. He was even labelled as a liar. When he visited the Kaabah he was pushed about and jeered at. Rubbish was thrown at him as he walked in the streets. All this was done to dishearten him and make him stop preaching the new faith. In the whole of this mean and morbid model of psychological warfare, the notorious Quraish chief Abu Jahl was the foremost villain. However, despite all that the Prophet kept on propagating the message of truth without fear or falter.

The more effective and fruitful shape Prophet's mission assumed, the more bitter and brutal did the pagans grow in their hostilities. One day they decided to effect a complete socio-economic boycott on the Holy Prophet and his

tribe. A deed of boycott was accordingly drafted and hung on the Kaabah's wall. When the psychological offensives grew too violent he went to the nearby town of Taif to preach Islam over there. But he was accorded rather more severe physical and mental torture. Consequently he returned to Makkah in an acute state of agony and anguish, dismay and depression. Abu Lahab's wife Umme Jamil, used to taunt and tease him very frequently. One day she even determined to stone him to death. Failing in her deadly design she blurted out some nasty verses against the prophet. But she eventually met her evil fate.
Once, five vulgar youths cut nasty jokes at him. They too met with a dreadful doom. Many Makkan rustics used to wish him death. Later on they also met their evil end one by one.

When the pagans failed in their psychological offensives they started to tempt him with all sorts of luring bribes only, if he renounced his revolutionary mission. The Prophet's silencing reply was: "Even if the Quraish aristocrats place the sun on one of my hands and the moon on the other, I will never renounce my noble mission. I will rather be quite willing to even lay down my life for its fulfilment.

DEADLY DEVICES TO MURDER

In the whole history of religion, there has been not a single missionary who was the target of as many murderous assaults as made on the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The first attempt on his life was in the Kaabah and has already been mentioned in the beginning. He was once attacked by some ruffians whilst busy in the tawaf. Hadrat Abu Bakr received severe injuries while shielding him. One day while he was busy praying Abu Jahl dashed at him in order to stone him to death. But he staggered back fearing some great invisible power. Just before accepting Islam even Umar had once rushed at him to kill him with a sharp sword. However, his entire mental outlook changed while he was still on the way. Accordingly he hastened to appear before the Holy Prophet to embrace Islam rather than to murder him.

Once the big shots of Makkah held a secret meeting and decided to kill him at his house during sleep at night. But the Prophet left the house quietly and migrated to Madina along with his Companion, Hadrat Abu Bakr. A luring reward of 100 she-camels was announced for his arrest. Many greedy chasers went out in search of the fleeing Prophet. But they all returned unsuccessful.

Attempts on the Prophet's life continued even at Madina. Once, a Makkan pagan, Umair, arrived at Madina simply to murder him with a poisoned sword. But before he did anything the Prophet told him quite calmly all about his evil intentions. He was simply amazed. He embraced Islam there and then.

After their defeat in the Battle of Badr the pagans made several abortive attempts at his life during the second war at Uhud. A bedouin, Ghaurath, once made a futile attempt at assassinating the Prophet while he was having a noon-nap under a tree. The notorious Jewish tribe of Banu Nudair made a fruitless endeavour to crush him to death by rolling a huge stone over him from the roof of a house. On another occasion some Madinite Jews made an unsuccessful attempt to murder him during a fake feast. On still another occasion two rascals, Amer and Arbad, failed to kill him after engaging him in a fake discussion. Similarly, a wicked Jewish woman, Zainab al-Harith, once conspired to kill him by presenting him "gift" of a poisoned roast lamb. The Prophet had a narrow escape. During the Conquest of Makkah an abortive assassination attempt was made at the Prophet while he was performing the tawaf. Another vulgar youth, Shaibah, also made a futile attempt to kill him during those days.

BEWITCHING THROUGH BLACK MAGIC

Like the psychological offensives all varieties of murderous assaults also failed. The desperate opponents also took recourse to black magic. The wicked Jews of Madina hired the expert services of magician Labid and his notorious magician sisters. The conspiring magicians manoeuvred to obtain some of the hair of Prophet's head and his personal comb. These articles were then subjected to a magic process and buried underneath a specific stone at the bottom of a deserted well at Zarwan. Along with the magic material two more articles were also placed in the well. One was a special cord with eleven knots and the other a wax effigy of the Holy Prophet with sharp needles piercing all over it.

This deadly magical offensive had a considerably damaging impact on Prophet's personal life .His physical health was adversely affected. He felt considerable pain. He began losing weight without a plausible cause. His eyesight was affected. His memory was also badly impaired. This painful condition lingered on for about a year. Despite all that, however, the magic process failed to affect his prophetic life. He continued to lead the prayers and to preach and guide the people as a Prophet as usual.

The Prophet prayed to God for relief and recovery. Through Divine guidance he was made to understand the operation of Labid's magic. He was directed to unearth the entire magic material from the Zarwan well and to recite the Muawwidhatain (the last two Surahs of the Holy Quran) over the articles. The moment the Prophet did as directed, he recovered from the magic spell with remarkable speed. After his recovery when his followers came to know about Labid's dirty game they took up arms to put an end to the wicked magician. But the Prophet calmed them down. Later on he summoned Labid and let him go after a polite reprimand.

Two significant points merit emphasis here:

(1) Magic is a dirty device. Labid's magic failed to affect The Prophet's sacred functions as God's Messenger. Its pernicious impact was confined to his personal and physical life. Again its antidote was also made available through the Holy Quran, which is a panacea for all ills and evils.

(2) The event of Labid's magic is an unpleasant episode in The Prophet's life. The Muslim historians could have easily omitted it. But by mentioning an event of that obnoxious magnitude they established the fact that their attitude in recording history was always objective, dispassionate and comprehensive.

STORY OF MIGRATION TO MADINAH

Despite mounting Quraish opposition and oppression, the popularity of the Holy Prophet went on increasing day by day. At last the Makkan aristocrats held a secret emergency meeting presided over by Abu Jahl. They decided to assassinate The Prophet during sleep that very night. The Prophet, however, managed to slip quietly from his house. He then set out for Madina along with his Companion, Hadrat Abu Bakr. They stayed for three nights at the Thaur Cave situated outside Makkah city. On the fourth day they started their flight journey to Madina on the backs of camels.

The Makkan pagans were all the more furious to learn about The Prophet's escape. They announced a special reward of 100 she-camels for his arrest. Motivated by the greed of the fabulous reward, many daredevils went in search of The Prophet on horseback. But none had any luck. In order to evade detection The Prophet had preferred a long and winding path along the seacoast, rather than the conventional straight and short route. Following that zigzag way The Prophet and his Companion at last reached Madina safe and sound.

Many Muslims had already migrated to Madina and had settled there. Those migrating refugees were already waiting for The Prophet's arrival rather impatiently. They accorded him a warm welcome. Batches of jubilant Muslim children welcomed him by singing joyous songs. The Prophet was very happy to meet the joyful children.

TWO GREAT WARS OF ISLAM

After their migration to Madina the Muslim community was living very happily and peacefully at the new place along with their Prophet. But the Makkan pagans were not prepared to let them live in peace. So after a short while they raised a huge army and invaded Madina. The Prophet came out with a small contingent of 313 Muslims to defend the city. The first battle between the Muslims and the pagans was fought at Badr, a small village on the outskirts of Madina. The pagans suffered a crushing defeat. Abu Jahl and many of their noteworthy leaders were killed. The Muslim victory established their supremacy over the area. Enemy defeat cast a gloom of sadness and acute depression among the Makkan pagans. The Fire of revenge and retaliation kept on burning in their hearts. They busied themselves in hectic preparations for a return fight.

When the revengeful pagans finalised their war preparations, they invaded Madina again with an army of 5,000 men. The Muslim forces comprise only 700. The two armies clashed around Uhud, a mountain three miles awe from Medina. The Muslim army was far inferior in size and equipment. But they fought so heroically that the pagans soon started fleeing from the battlefield. At this the victorious Muslims began to amass war spoils. The Prophet had stationed 50 archers on a nearby strategic mountain pass in order to prevent a possible enemy attack from the rear. Those archers had been directed not to leave their positions in any case. On seeing the Muslims engaged in grabbing the booty the archers also joined the looting spree. When the retreating pagans saw the strategic mountain pass unmanned, one of their seasoned warriors. Khalid bin Walid (who had not yet embraced Islam), made a lightening attack on the Muslims from that side. This sudden and surprise back attack changed the battle situation in enemy's favour. The Muslims sustained heavy losses. Even the Prophet lost four of his front teeth and had a narrow escape. Seventy Muslims were martyred whereas only thirty pagans lost their life. Intoxicated by victory the pagans desecrated the Muslim martyrs and mutilated their organs. They then left for Makkah in a jubilant mood.

Negligence to Holy Prophet's clear-cut instructions about the archers turned a winning battle into a humiliating defeat.

THE CONQUEST OF MAKKAH

After the Uhud debacle the Muslims engaged themselves rather more seriously than ever before, in rebuilding their lost prestige and glory, with the help of the Prophet's war expeditions, his civil policies and political treaties they eventually succeeded in emerging as a well-organized force. Till at last a day came when they decided to liquidate idolatry completely from the sacred city of Makkah. Accordingly the Prophet started from Madina on 10th Ramadan, 8 A.H. (11th February, 630) with a big army of 10,000 men. They reached Makkah on 20th Ramadan (21st February).

The Muslim army surrounded the city immediately. After a hurried assessment of the critical situation the Makkans concluded that it was now too futile to oppose the Muslims. Their leader, Abu Sufyan, accepted Islam. Conscious of their past misbehaviour the pagans felt extremely apprehensive of their future fate. But when the Holy Prophet liberally declared a general amnesty everyone felt relieved and joyous. So, all the processes of the Conquest of Makkah were finalised without any bloodshed. The Muslim rule was thus, finally established over that great ancient centre of civilization and culture.

After the conquest of the historic city, the Prophet entered into the Holy Kaabah and smashed all the idols and statues stationed inside. Soon a huge heap of broken pieces were piled high outside the Kaabah gate. Clearing the Kaabah of the contamination of all sorts of pagan idols was the most spectacular aspect of the Conquest of Makkah.

After the conquest the Muslims continued their mission of disseminating Islam over the entire Arabian Peninsula with added zeal and zest. Consequently the light of Islamic teachings went on illuminating people and places everywhere.

Soon Islam began to enlighten all parts of the Arabian Peninsula. Islam's supremacy and Prophet's sovereignty began to be acknowledged everywhere. The pagan Arab tribes started to turn away from idolatry and to bow before the One God. The experience of embracing Islam generated a new sense of togetherness and brotherhood amongst them. This resulted in the liquidation of all age-old jealousies, hatreds, hostilities and feuds.

THE CHARTER OF LOVE AND PEACE

During the later days of Zilqaadah, 10 A. H., the Holy Prophet was seen busy in Hajj preparations. Large groups of eager Muslims began to flock Madina with the hope of enjoying the privilege of performing the pilgrimage in his pleasant company. At last the Prophet set out for Makkah with a caravan of 100,000 devout pilgrims. At Zul-Hulaifah, a little distance away from Madina, this glorious caravan camped for the night. The following morning they resumed their journey after the dawn prayer and the donning of the pilgrim costumes (ihram).

During that memorable Hajj the Prophet delivered his historic address at the Arafat plain while riding his she-camels, al-Qaswa. That great address is rated as an unparalleled masterpiece of love, brotherhood and peace. Here are a Few excerpts from that momentous discourse, known as Khutbah Hijjatui-Wida.

"0 people! Listen to me attentively for I may not be present amidst you here after this occasion.

"Your lives and properties are as sacred to you till the Day of Resurrection as this day and this month.

If anyone of you holds a trust he should return it to the owner. From today all types of usury is banned in toto. You are entitled only to the principal amount. Do not oppress anyone. You will not be oppressed.

Your womenfolk have a right on you. You too have a right on your womenfolk. Remember every Muslim is a brother of every other Muslim. All Muslims are united as brothers".....

"That historic Hajj was Prophet's last Hajj. That is why it is known as the Farewell Pilgrimage. After the Prophet's Last Address the following Quranic verses were revealed at Sakhrat:

"This day have I perfected your religion for you, have completed My blessing upon you and have approved Islam as your religion." (5:3)

THE GREAT BELOVED`S DEPARTURE

After having laid the solid foundations of human civilization and culture, peace and progress, the creative mission of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) had been finalized. It now appeared as if he knew that he was about to depart from the mortal world. For quite sometime during the past he had been feeling some physical pain. But during June, 632 A.D. that pain began to intensify. When sickness grew more painful he directed Hadrat Abu Bakr to lead the prayers in his place at the Prophet's Mosque.

At last that sad day arrived and was the last day in the glorious life of the greatest benefactor of humanity. That day he had some last words with his loving daughter, Fatimah Batool. He had some farewell kisses of his grandsons, Hadrat Hasan and Hadrat Husain. Then, on Monday, 12th Rabi al-Awwal. 10 A.H. (8th June, 632 A.D.) he breathed his last, in the lap of his caring wife, Hadrat Ayesha. On that mournful day Hadrat Ayesha did not even have a little oil to pour into the household lamp. So on that woeful night, the lamp in the house of the great benefactor of mankind, had to be lighted with oil borrowed from a neighbour.

The Prophet's death news spread like wild fire in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. The Muslim community sank into a sea of depression and dismay. The dead body of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) had not yet been buried when a shortsighted Muslim created panic by declaring himself, as the Prophet's successor. However, the timely intervention of the Muslim Ummah, under the wise leadership of Hadrat Abu Bakr and Hadrat Umar brought the situation under control, in deference to the principles of Islamic democracy the Prophet had not made any nomination about his successor. Election had to be effected on the basis of piety, virtue, ability and intelligence. As Hadrat Abu Bakr had been honoured by the Prophet himself to lead the prayers in his place during his fatal sickness he was unanimously approved to be the choice on merits.

After the sad demise of her loving father no one ever saw smiles on the face of Hadrat Fatimah Zahra. Living only for a brief span of six months after the Holy Prophet's transition she too, set out on the journey to her eternal abode in paradise.

LESSONS FROM THE PROPHET'S ERA

Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) life is the best model for all of mankind. All those values and virtues, which could inspire and motivate anyone anywhere, shine crystal clear in his loving character and personality

The Holy Prophet was an ardent lover of truth and goodness. Friends and foes all admitted unanimously that he was a model of a truthful person. That is why he was referred to by the coveted title of "the Truthful" (Sadiq) even from his early years. He was an exceptionally honest and trustworthy individual. That virtue earned him the most honoured title of "The Trusted" (Amin).

BEST QUALITIES IN THE BEST PERSONALITY

These were not the only qualities bestowing beauty to his benign being. He was in fact the embodiment of the peaks of all human virtues. He was a man of character. He was brave and courageous. He was steadfast and persevering. He was liberal and generous. He was just and upright. His heart overflowed with sympathy and compassion. All his acts and moves bore the stamp of wisdom and maturity.

Apart from the highest qualities of character and conduct his habits and attitudes were extremely pleasant. He was a picture of health and harmony. He was active and hardworking. He was considerate towards all people, especially the weak and the oppressed. He could not even imagine of violating contracts and commitments. He preached and practised simple and clean living', in short, the Holy Prophet was the culminating point of all human values and virtues and was dedicated to the love and service of mankind. It is because of these lovable virtues that the Holy Quran refers to him and him alone, as the best standard for all mankind.

Who could fail to admire and to love such a charming person? In the whole history of humanity Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) stands out as the only person who was accorded so tremendous and so spontaneous a love and affection.

THE MOST LOVING FIGURE IN HISTORY

Ever since his appearance and exit from the worldly scene veneration and love for him has never ceased to grow even for a short while, indeed it shall always continue to grow till eternity.

Why does mankind love and adore Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)? The answer is not hard to find. Prophet Muhammad loved people from the core of his heart. He guided the distressed humanity to the right path. He illuminated the darkest of the lives with the brightest of the rays of hope and health. When he emerged on the scene the Arabian Peninsula had sunk to the deepest depths of deprivation and degradation. But the day he started his noble mission things began to change. By the time he left the world Arabia had started to emerge as a centre of great civilization and culture, in fact the gigantic transformation of human thought and behaviour that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brought about in a short span of time is simply unprecedented in the whole history of human development. It is a stark historical fact that his inspiring teachings were and still are the biggest source of human guidance and greatness.

This fact is patent on record and acknowledged by everyone. This indebtedness and deep sense of gratitude to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for his infinite services to humanity is the reason why he has been showered with an incredible high amount of love and admiration. Even with the passage of time, that love and veneration go on increasing.

THE RIGHT WAY OF THE LOVING PROPHET

It is indeed a sign of sanity, to love and adore Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). But there are right and wrong ways of loving him. The best way of showering love and affection on him is to inculcate the values and virtues that he cherished.

Expression of love and gratitude in the conventional words and styles is essential, no doubt but the best way of appreciating and loving the Holy Prophet is the practical way.

When we reform our habits and attitudes and model our entire thought and behaviour after the Prophet we indeed pay him the best possible respect and homage.
Another practical way is to involve ourselves actively in the process of the social, economic, political and cultural change. Such are the right ways of loving our beloved Prophet. Such action oriented love and respect pays rich dividends in the long run. It proves helpful to others as well. It makes us a better person and a better Muslim. And that is the crux of the teachings of the Holy Prophet.

Such a practical way of loving and paying homage to him has withstood the test of history. For individuals and nations who paid him homage, the practical and the realistic way, they have flourished and thrived. On the other hand those who ignored this basic truth were doomed to suffer in all departments of life.

CONSEQUENCES OF OBEYING THE PROPHET

Obedience to Holy Prophet is a great honour that anybody could be privileged to enjoy anywhere in the world. Disobeying him is not only a display of bad taste but a manifestly losing bargain as well. The case of the 50 archers in the Uhud Battle, who left their post, is an example to be quoted. A moment of negligence to the standing instructions of the Prophet cost them heavily. The entire Muslim Ummah was also penalised massively for that big blunder.

An insightful study of the entire history of Islam endorses the same truth Obedience to God Almighty and the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is replete with individual and collective gains here and hereafter. On the contrary, disobedience is damaging, deadly and disastrous. That is why when the Holy Quran highlights the necessity and utility of obedience to God Almighty it also stresses the urgency of obedience to the Holy Prophet (pbuh).