Muhammad is the Prophet, the first created and the last to come into this world. John Gilchrist
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and All-Merciful!
You can't have enough advice for a lifetime. But there are those who can become a person’s “wise companion” for life, saving them from various troubles.
1. Don't say "if only."
Reproaches and regrets associated with past actions take away a lot of mental strength from a person and, in general, do not contribute to any significant changes. The prescribed happens, no matter which way you go. In a hadith narrated from Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, it is said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “...And if anything befalls you, do not say: “If only I had done such and such.” and so and so!”, but say: “This was predetermined by Allah and He did what He wanted,” for these “ifs” open the way for the Shaitan to his deeds.” (Muslim)
There are such “ifs” that concern what cannot be changed, and they only deplete a person’s strength and push him to despair. For example, “if I had been nearby then, he would not have died,” “if I had been born in another place, this misfortune would not have befallen me,” etc. And there are those thanks to which a person learns a lesson from past mistakes. For example, “if I had not wasted my time, I would have had more knowledge,” “if I had started learning the Qur’an in time, I would have already known it by heart,” etc. And if the first are the paths to the wiles of the shaitan, then the second are the paths to wisdom and positive changes.
2. Don't do anything you doubt.
Al-Hasan ibn 'Ali, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, narrated the following: “I remember the following from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Leave what makes you doubtful (and turn) to what you doubt.” doesn't call you. Truly, truth is tranquility, and falsehood is doubt.” Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The hadith says that one should leave what is in doubt and avoid it. Regarding what is absolutely permissible, the believer does not have anxiety and worry in his heart; on the contrary, his soul finds peace and his heart finds peace. As for the dubious and suspicious, it causes concern and excitement.”
3. Before you commit an action, think about the consequences.
It is said that one day a man came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and said: “O Messenger of Allah! Give me instructions! He asked: “Are you asking for guidance?” He said, "Yes." Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) advised: “When you intend to do something, think about the consequences: if there is good in them, then do it, and if not, then abandon it.”
4. Do not say what is not good.
Muaz bin Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, was the favorite of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. And one day on the way, Muaz bin Jabal said to the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: “O Messenger of Allah! Let my soul be a sacrifice for you! One thing worries me: I would like to die before you and not experience the pain of loss. But if fate is such that you leave before us, what is your advice?” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not answer and remained silent for some time. Then Muaz, may Allah be pleased with him, asked: “O Messenger of Allah, do jihad?!” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) replied: “Muaz, jihad is a good thing. But there is better". Then Muaz asked: “Should I fast and pray?” “This is a must, but there is even better!”
The Companion began to list all the good deeds. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “There is better for people than all this!” Muadh said: “O Messenger of Allah! May my mother and father be sacrifices for you! What could be better than what I listed?!” Then the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “If you say something good, speak up; if not, be silent!”.
5. Never give up.
It is reported from the words of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “A strong believer is better and more loved by Allah than a weak believer, but in each of them there is good. Be persistent in what benefits you, seek help from Allah and never give up.”
6. Stay optimistic.
Despite all the hardships that befell him, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not lose his fortitude, optimism and... smile. Abdullah ibn al-Harith said: “I have not seen anyone who smiled more often than the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.” In one of the hadiths transmitted from Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, it is said: “There is no influence of infection (except with the permission of Allah), there are no bad omens and I like good optimism - a good word (which each of you hears in your soul )"
7. Allow yourself to have feelings, but control their expression.
Sometimes believers understand hadith literally and this is fraught with internal conflicts. For example, the hadith “Do not be angry” is understood by many as a prohibition against the feeling of anger. The hadith that the Almighty loves the strong is like a ban on tears, weakness, and sadness. In fact, religion encourages a person to be sincere, including in feelings. But it protects him from undesirable consequences that feelings encourage. For example, in his commentary to the hadith “Do not be angry,” Imam An-Nawawi points out that irritation is a natural human reaction and that this hadith calls not to act in a state of irritation.
Also in another hadith it is reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), to the surprise of his companions, that he was crying, holding his heavily breathing son Ibrahim in his arms, said: “Truly, the eyes cry and the heart grieves, but we say only what pleases our Lord!” So do not deceive yourself by suppressing your natural feelings or passing them off as something else, as this is a form of hypocrisy.
8. Be patient from the first seconds of shock.
It is reported that Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “One day the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, passed by a woman who was crying at the grave, (stopped) and said (to her): "Fear Allah and be patient". The woman, who did not know him (by sight), exclaimed: “Leave me, such grief has not befallen you!” Then they told her: “It was the prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him!” - and then she came to the door (of the house) of the prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, but did not find the gatekeepers there. She told him, “I didn’t know it was you!” - he told her: “Verily, patience (most necessary) is to be exercised at the first shock.”.
9. Listen to your heart.
It is reported that Wabisa Ibn Ma'bad, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “(Once) I came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and he asked (me): “Have you come to ask about piety?” I said, "Yes." He said: “Ask (about this) your heart (for) piety is that in which the soul and heart feel confident, and sin is that which (continues) to stir in the soul and waver in the chest, even if people (not times) they will tell you (that you did the right thing)” (Ahmad and Ad-Darimi)
10. Let every misdeed, mistake, sin be followed by a good deed.
Man is not immune from sins and mistakes. And the best of us are distinguished from the worst not by what they do not do, but by what they then do with them. A true believer, after committing a sin, repents and “erases” it with a good deed. And the sinner forgets about him. According to the testimony of Abu Dharr Jundub ibn Junad and Abu Abd ar-Rahman Muadh ibn Jabal, may Allah have mercy on them both, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Fear Allah, wherever you are, and let every bad deed of yours be followed by a good one that will make up for the previous one, and treat people well!” Every offense leaves a black dot on the heart. But the good deed that follows erases this point, returning light and whiteness to the heart.
Well, the last words of the hadith could be put into a separate rule - rule No. 11.
11. Treat people well!
And probably this rule does not need explanation.
The Prophet and the People of the BookOne of the amazing aspects of Muhammad's mission was his conviction that he was called to be a prophet among the great prophets of the past who shaped the Judeo-Christian heritage. This required a gradual abandonment of the widespread pagan idolatry of the Arabs, so he had to deal with the opposition of his people for many years. In addition, the Jews and Christians had something that the Arabs would never possess - the Holy Book sent by God. The Jews have Taura, the Law, and Muhammad supposed that this book was sent to Moses; Christians have the Injil, the Gospel, which he believes was sent to Jesus. Muhammad called them (Jews and Christians) Ahl al-Kitab, the People of the Book, and regarded himself as the last prophet who received his own Holy Book, al-Quran, Exposition.
Muhammad's conviction that he was called into the ranks of the true prophets sent from God, as written in the Koran, was so strong that he accepted their prophecies without questioning their basic content. Countless records telling of unprecedented signs and miracles did not cause him doubt even when the pagans of Mecca persistently demanded that he demonstrate miracles. When the persecution of Muslims reached its climax, Muhammad, during his flight to Medina, set the direction of prayer (qibla) to Jerusalem and forced his followers to keep fasts, as the Jews did. He had no doubt that God had favored the Jews in the past, a fact that the Qur'an repeatedly emphasizes in phrases somewhat reminiscent of Paul's letter to the Romans (9:4-5):
Children of Israel! You will remember the mercy that I bestowed on you, and keep your side of the Covenant, then I will keep Mine. Fear only Me.
To the children of Israel We gave the Book, prophecy (among themselves) and authority; We gave them all the blessings for living (in this world) and elevated them above other people.
(Sura 45:16)
Muhammad's deepest desire was to unite with the Jews and to be recognized by them as God's chosen messenger. Apparently he was unaware that the Jewish Holy Books had always taught that God's complete revelation of the Messiah was to be revealed exclusively through them and that he, as an Arab, simply had no chance of meeting their expectations. He also knew nothing about the many differences between the Qur'an and their Holy Books. The life stories of the prophets, as set out in the Koran and the Bible, have little agreement with each other.
Expecting that a large number of Jews would follow him soon after moving to Medina, he found that their opposition undermined his authority to a much greater extent than that of the Meccans. People questioned his mission in an offensive manner. Muhammad lost face when he discovered his ignorance of their Holy Books. The Jews took advantage of this, irritating him with their knowledge, and at the same time skillfully distorting the meaning of what he said or using phrases whose meaning he did not understand. This amused the Jews greatly.
The book of Exodus (24:7) records that at Mount Sinai the Israelites promised Moses, “...All that the Lord hath said we will do, and we will obey,” but the Quran says that when they were called upon to obey the law of God on the Mount, they responded : “We hear, but we do not obey” (Surah 2:93). Only after some time had passed did Muhammad realize how mistaken he had been. The Koran condemned the Jews for deception:
Among the Jews there are those who rearrange the words (of the Scripture sent down to them) and say: “We have heard, but we do not obey (it)”...
However, it was already too late to correct the error in the text of the Koran. Such incidents greatly upset Muhammad, and his attitude towards the Jews became extremely hostile. By declaring that there were significant errors and distortions in the Koran, the Jews threatened to undermine the very foundation of his mission, and the only way out of this situation was to drive them out of Medina and attack them with diatribes in the Koran. Here is a typical response to their accusations:
And so the Jews said: “The hand of the Lord is tied (to the neck)!” Let their hands be tied (to their necks) and let them be cursed for the (blasphemy of) their speech! ... We aroused in them enmity and hatred towards each other until the Day of the Lord's Judgment. And every time they light the fire of war, the Lord will extinguish it.
And you will see that of all people, the greatest enmity is towards those who believe (in God) from the pagans and Jews.
During the last years of Muhammad's life in Medina, mutual hostility between him and the Jews constantly increased. Much Jewish writing in early biographical works demonstrates this hostility. One biographer describes a tradition that the Jews wanted to kill Muhammad in his infancy because they feared that he would become a prophet (Ibn Saad, Tabaqat, vol. 1, p. 125). Another legend showers them with abuse with the same enthusiasm:
Around the same time, the Jewish rabbis became hostile to the messenger out of envy, hatred and malice because God had chosen His messenger from among the Arabs.
(Ibn Ishaq, Sirat rasul Allah, p. 239)
A brief review of the manner in which Muhammad dealt with the three Jewish tribes living in the vicinity of Medina will show how deep was their hostility towards each other.
Muhammad's conflict with the Jews of Medina
Muhammad's victory at Badr gave him the opportunity to send his warriors against the Banu Qaynuqa tribe, who lived near the city. In the market square, he demanded that they recognize him as God's chosen one if they wanted to avoid misfortunes looming over them, such as those that befell the Quraish. The inhabitants of the tribe refused him. Without losing his presence of mind, he accused them of violating the treaty and kept their settlement surrounded until they unconditionally capitulated. Abdallah ibn Ubayy came to Muhammad and begged him not to execute them. Finally, Muhammad relented and ordered them to leave the city immediately (Ibn Ishaq, Sirat rasul Allah, p. 363).
After the Battle of Uhud, Muhammad attacked the Bani Nadir tribe, located near Medina, in the same way. He announced that the tribesmen had organized a conspiracy to kill him. Mindful of the fate of the Banu Qaynuqa tribe, the residents prepared to leave the city, but Abdallah ibn Ubayy and his associates convinced them to stay, promising their support. During the fifteen-day siege they received no help. The prophet then ordered his followers to cut down the date palms that belonged to them. The Jews shouted to him:
Muhammad, you forbade senseless destruction and condemned the perpetrators. Why did you cut down and burn our palm trees?
(Ibn Ishaq, Sirat rasul Allah, p. 437)
In fact, Muhammad's actions contradicted the instructions God gave to his people in the Bible: never cut down trees in a city that is being fought or besieged. It was only permissible to use the fruits of these trees for food, but in no case to cut them down (Deut. 20:19). According to tradition, Muhammad was most likely familiar with this passage, since after he ordered the cutting down of the date palms in the town of Buwayra, a revelation immediately appeared in the Qur'an justifying his act (Al-Sahih al-Bukhari, vol. 5, p. 242). Here is the text:
Whether you cut off some of the (tender) palm trees, or left others standing, all this is by the will of Allah to cover the disbelievers with shame.
The Banu Nadir tribe fled just like their compatriots and settled in the Jewish fortress of Khaybar, north of Medina. The Banu Qurayza tribe was the last to leave, immediately after one of the main clashes between Muhammad and the Quraysh from Mecca in the “Battle of the Trench.” While Medina was besieged by allied forces, the Jews of this tribe, who lived in the eastern part of the city, made an agreement with the Quraish and allowed them to enter the city through their quarter. The Muslims sowed discord among the allied soldiers and avoided defeat, and when the Quraish retreated, the Jews found themselves in a helpless position. Muhammad immediately surrounded their quarter and after a month's siege they were forced to surrender, but, unlike the other two tribes, they were not allowed to leave the city. Just as Abdallah ibn Ubayy asked Muhammad for the Banu Qaynuqa tribe and succeeded in this, so a certain al-Aws, an Arab, whose tribe was related to the Jews, asked the prophet to spare them. However, Muhammad asked him if they would be satisfied if one of the tribes decided their fate. He then chose one Sa'd ibn Mu'ad, one of the few Muslims wounded during the siege of Medina. It must be admitted that this was a rather treacherous choice, given the circumstances. Saad ibn Muad turned to the Jews with a question whether they would agree to accept the justice of Allah, and after they agreed, he turned to Muhammad with the same question. Then he announced his decree: “This is my verdict: all men must be killed, property divided, and women and children taken captive” (Ibn Ishaq, Sirat rasul Allah, p. 464). There is another written evidence of what happened, it reads:
The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him, allowed Sa'd ibn Mu'ad to make a decision about them. He pronounced the verdict: “Those subject to shaving (i.e., men) must be killed, women and children must become slaves, and property must be distributed.” Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him, said: “You have agreed with the justice of Allah in the seven heavens.” The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him, returned on Thursday the 7th of Dhu-l-Hijjah. Then he ordered them to be brought to al-Madina, where trenches were dug in the market. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him, sat down with his companions, and they were divided into small groups. Their heads were cut off. Their number was between six hundred and seven hundred.
(Ibn Saad, Tabaqat, vol. 2, p. 93)
There are no other records of similar massacres of captives by the apostle of Islam, and the authenticity of the historical materials is sometimes disputed by Muslim writers. However, there is evidence from Ibn Saad, from which we can conclude that perhaps Muhammad predicted the same fate for the Banu Qaynuqa tribe. He ordered their hands tied behind their backs and prepared for beheading. And only Abdallah, who by that time had become very influential, dissuaded him (ibid., pp. 32-33). Perhaps the gruesome spectacle of the beheadings and mass burials of so many people (tradition has it that the executions continued into the evening) caused some Muslims to react negatively to the events, although others who accepted their righteousness objected, saying that divine acts were being carried out here. Allah's order against treacherous people who have predetermined their fate. The Koran says that Allah himself struck terror into their hearts, and the Muslims were able to kill them and take possession of their lands, houses and property (Sura 33:26).
A short time passed and Muhammad attacked the Jewish fortress of Khaybar, and although he failed to conquer it, he established his dominance over it. At the end of his life, he instructed Umar, his second successor, to ensure that all Jews were expelled from the Arabian Peninsula, and the Caliph obediently carried out the will of the prophet.
Muhammad's contacts with the Christians of Arabia
Muhammad's contacts with the Christians of the Hejaz, in contrast to his contacts with the Jews, were relatively rare. Christians were outnumbered by Jews, and their small groups were scattered at considerable distances throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
Communication with Negus, the king of Abyssinia, put Muhammad in a favorable mood towards Christians, and for a long time he treated them as potential friends and allies. Indeed, in contrast to the negative attitude towards Jews, the Koran says about Christians:
And, undoubtedly, you will find that those who say: “We are Nazarenes” are closest in love to those who believe. And this is because among them there are priests and monks who are devoid of pride (and do not rise above others).
The Qur'an often shows the most favorable attitude towards Christians. It predicts the victory of Byzantine Christians over the pagan Persians (Sura 30:4), describing the early Christians and those recently killed in Yemen. They are presented as an example of true believers. The Koran approves of many monks and priests who protect monasteries and churches from destruction, “in which the name of God is remembered in full” (Sura 22:40).
However, as time passed, Muhammad's good attitude towards Christians gave way to deep antagonism, since Christians, like Jews, refused to accept him as a prophet and doubted the authenticity of the Koran. A gathering of believers in the Christian settlement of Najran openly questioned the distortions found in the book, in particular the distortion of the name of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The Koran says that those around her address her as Ya uhta Harun - “O sister of Harun (Aaron - Ed.)!” (Surah 19:28). In the Quran she is called by the same name, Maryam, which is the name of Aaron's real sister Miriam (Ex. 15:20), and the confusion in these names caused Muhammad to face serious errors in the contents of the book.
Al-Mughira ibn Shuba says: “When I arrived in Najran, they (i.e. the Christians of Najran) asked me: “You read “O sister of Haruna” (i.e. Hadhrat Maryam) in the Koran, while Moses was born long ago before Jesus." When I returned to the Messenger of Allah (may he rest in peace), I asked him about this, to which he replied: “People (in the old days) were accustomed to give names (to those around them) the prophets and pious people who died before them.” .
(As-Sahih Muslim, vol. 3, p. 1169)
Nothing irritated a prophet more than a challenge to his prophetic calling. It is clear from written sources that he had very limited knowledge of Christianity, and neither he nor his associates understood the essence of Christian teaching. The crucifixion of Christ is mentioned only once in the Koran in the context of the outrage of the Jews (Sura 4:157), but there is no hint in the book of Christian belief in the subsequent redemption. In addition, the Koran, without hesitation, calls Jesus al-Masih - the Messiah (Sura 4:171), without giving any explanation for this definition. Over time, Muhammad must have developed a feeling of deep disappointment towards the Christians, which he also felt towards the Jews, and the Qur'an at times shows extreme hostility towards them:
O you who believe! Do not take either Jews or Christians as your friends and patrons; they are friends of one another. And the one of you who takes them as friends is himself one of them.
In the year when the Muslim armies clashed north of Medina with the military forces of Byzantium, Muhammad's hostility towards Christians reached its climax. Tradition says that the Koran angrily condemns their kufr (reliance in Allah) for believing in the divinity of Christ, as well as for believing in a triune Godhead (Sura 5: 75-76). Kufr is an accusation usually directed only at idolaters. The last recorded words of the prophet mark Muhammad's growing rejection of the People of the Bible towards the end of his life:
Umar b. al-Khattab narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may he rest in peace) say: “I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will leave no one here except the Muslims.”
(As-Sahih Muslim, vol. 3, p. 965)
Umar b. Abd al-Aziz says that the last statement of the Messenger of Allah (may he rest in peace) was: “O Lord, kill the Jews and Christians. They made churches from the graves of their prophets. Beware, there should not be two religions in Arabia."
(Al-Muwatta Malika, p. 371)
The die was cast between Islam and two other religions, with whose heritage the prophet associated himself. To this day, Muslims view the other two monotheistic faiths with suspicion, distrust and hostility. Perhaps Muhammad never understood the reason why Jews and Christians refused to recognize him, resulting in Islam historically placing itself in opposition to Judaism and Christianity rather than coexisting peacefully with them.
The following incident occurred during the time when the caliph was‘Umar ibn al-Khattab.
Three grabbed a certain man and dragged him to ‘Umaru, saying:
O Commander of the Faithful, we want you to punish him, for he killed our father.
‘Umar looked at the accused and asked:
Why did you do this?
He replied:
I herd camels and goats. One of my camels ate a bush from their father's land, then he got angry and threw a stone at the animal, so much so that it fell dead. Seeing this, out of anger, I picked up the same stone and hit the man with it, after which he gave up the ghost.
After listening to his story, ‘Umar said:
In this case, we must kill you as retribution for your lost soul.
Knowing that ‘Umar In addition to great justice, he also had a kind heart and listened to the requests of the people; the shepherd turned to him with one last request:
O lord, grant me a respite of three days, for my father died, leaving an inheritance to me and my younger brother. And if you kill me now, then both my brother and property will disappear, let me just settle this matter, I don’t need anything else.
Who will vouch for you? You are a stranger here, no one knows you! - exclaimed ‘Umar.
The poor fellow began to look with hope at the faces of the people gathered in the square and, fixing his gaze on one of them, shouted: “He!”
People froze with excitement, because it was none other than Abu Dharr, a noble companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and everyone’s favorite.
Would you really vouch for this person? - asked him ‘Umar, to which he nodded his head affirmatively.
People wanted to dissuade Abu Zarra from such a risky act, because if the killer ran away and did not return, then he would have to bear the punishment himself. But all these persuasions could not in the least influence the man who was the companion of the final Messenger of God (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and he remained unwaveringly faithful to his word.
The man was released for the promised term, and he immediately set off on his journey, while people went home, sad for the future. Abu Zarra, because few believed that the stranger would return. All of Medina was waiting. So the day passed. Second. The third one was already nearing its end. The people gathered in the square again, but the stranger was still not there. The sun was setting, when suddenly enthusiastic cries of “ he's back, he's back!».
Out of breath from running, exhausted from the long journey, the shepherd fell right in front of ‘Umar and said in a barely audible voice:
The promise has been fulfilled, I have entrusted my brother and property to my maternal uncles, and nothing any longer holds me back from suffering the deserved punishment!
‘Umar looked at the skinny shepherd in amazement, marveling at his courage, and asked:
O servant of Allah, tell me what made you return when you could have fled?
To which he replied:
- I was afraid that they would say: “There is no loyalty left in people!”.
Then ‘Umar called Abu Zarra and asked him:
What made you vouch for a man whom you had never seen before and did not know whether you would ever see again?
- I was afraid that they would say: “There is no trust left in people!” , - said Abu Dharr.
These words softened the hearts of the children of the murdered man, and they said:
We forgive him, O Commander of the Faithful!
Why? - surprised ‘Umar.
And they said:
- We are afraid that they will say: “There is no forgiveness left in people!”.
Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) around 570 AD. e., in the Hashim clan of the Quraish tribe. Muhamed's father, Abdallah, died before the birth of his Son, and Muhamed's mother, Amina, died when He was only six years old, leaving the Son an orphan. Muhammad was raised first by His grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, a man of exceptional piety, and then by His uncle, the merchant Abu Talib.
At that time, the Arabs were inveterate pagans, among whom, however, a few adherents of Monotheism stood out, such as, for example, Abd al-Muttalib. Most Arabs lived a nomadic life in their ancestral territories. There were few cities. The main ones among them are Mecca, Yathrib and Taif.
If what I do is for the benefit of me and my faith, my life now and then, my task is easy and blessed.
Muhammad Prophet
If what I am doing is to the detriment of me and my faith, my life now and later, then spare me from performing this task.
From his youth, the Prophet was distinguished by exceptional piety and piety, believing, like His grandfather, in One God. First He tended the flocks, and then He began to participate in the trading affairs of His uncle Abu Talib. He became famous, people loved Him and, as a sign of respect for his piety, honesty, justice and prudence, they bestowed the honorary nickname al-Amin (Trustworthy).
Later, He conducted the trading affairs of a wealthy widow named Khadija, who, some time later, proposed to Muhammad to marry her. Despite the age difference, they lived a happy married life with six children. And although in those days polygamy among Arabs was common. The Prophet did not take other wives while Khadija was alive.
This newfound position freed up much more time for prayer and reflection. As was his custom, Muhammad retired to the mountains surrounding Mecca and secluded himself there for a long time. Sometimes His seclusion lasted several days. He especially fell in love with the cave of Mount Hira (Jabal Nyr - Mountains of Light), majestically rising above Mecca. On one of these visits, which occurred in the year 610, something happened to Muhammad, who was about forty years old at that time, that completely changed His entire life.
There is no success like patience.
Muhammad Prophet
CT He who knows the Truth and follows it is safe.
In a sudden vision, the angel Gabriel (Gabriel) appeared before Him and, pointing to the words that appeared from outside, ordered Him to pronounce them. Muhammad objected, declaring that he was illiterate and therefore would not be able to read them, but the angel continued to insist, and the meaning of these words was suddenly revealed to the Prophet. He was ordered to learn them and accurately pass them on to the rest of the people. This is how the first revelation of the sayings of the Book, now known as the Koran (from Arabic “reading”), was marked.
This eventful night fell on the 27th of the month of Ramadan, and was called Laylat al-Qadr. From now on, the life of the Prophet no longer belonged to him, but was given to the care of the One who called him to the prophetic mission, and he spent the rest of his days in the service of God, proclaiming His messages everywhere.
“...Eat what has been given to you Allah V inheritance, and do not commit wickedness on earth..."
When receiving revelations, the Prophet did not always see the angel Gabriel, and when he did, the angel did not always appear in the same guise. Sometimes the angel appeared before Him in human form, eclipsing the horizon, and sometimes the Prophet only managed to catch his gaze on Himself. At times He heard only a voice speaking to Him. Sometimes He received revelations while deeply immersed in prayer, but at other times they appeared completely “at random”, when Muhammad, for example, was busy worrying about the affairs of everyday life, or went for a walk, or simply enthusiastically listened to a meaningful conversation.
The servant will appear before the Lord on the Day of Judgment and will answer the question of what wealth he owned, how he acquired it, and for what needs he spent it.
Knowledge is the tree, and action is the fruit.
Muhammad Prophet
The best is the one who is the best towards his family.
At first, the Prophet avoided public sermons, preferring personal conversations with interested people and with those who noticed extraordinary changes in Him. A special path of Muslim prayer was revealed to him, and He immediately began daily pious exercises, which invariably caused a wave of criticism from those who saw him. Having received the highest order to begin a public sermon, Muhammad was ridiculed and cursed by the people, who thoroughly mocked His statements and actions. Meanwhile, many Quraysh became seriously alarmed, realizing that Muhammad's insistence on establishing faith in the One True God could not only undermine the prestige of polytheism, but also lead to the complete decline of idolatry if people suddenly began to convert to the faith of the Prophet. Some relatives of Muhammad turned into His main opponents: humiliating and ridiculing the Prophet himself, they did not forget to do evil against converts. There are many examples of mockery and abuse of those who accepted a new faith. Two large groups of early Muslims, seeking refuge, moved to Abyssinia, where the Christian negus (king), very impressed by their teachings and way of life, agreed to provide them with protection. The Quraysh decided to ban all trade, business, military and personal connections with the Hashim clan. Representatives of this clan were strictly forbidden to appear in Mecca. Very difficult times came, and many Muslims were doomed to severe poverty.
In 619, the Prophet's wife Khadija died. She was His most devoted supporter and helper. In the same year, Muhammad’s uncle, Abu Talib, who defended Him from the most violent attacks from his fellow tribesmen, also died. Stricken with grief, the Prophet left Mecca and went to Taif, where he tried to find refuge, but was rejected there too.
The Prophet's friends betrothed a pious widow named Sauda as his wife, who turned out to be a very worthy woman, and also a Muslim. Aisha, the young daughter of his friend Abu Bakr, knew and loved the Prophet all her life. And although she was too young for marriage, however, according to the customs of that time, she nevertheless entered the Muhamed family as a sister-in-law. It is necessary, however, to dispel the misconception that exists among people who completely do not understand the reasons for Muslim polygamy. In those days, a Muslim who took several women as wives did so out of compassion, graciously providing them with his protection and shelter. Muslim men were encouraged to help the wives of their friends killed in battle, to provide them with separate houses and treat them as if they were their closest relatives (of course, everything could be different in the case of mutual love).
A kind word is alms.
Oh Allah! I appeal to you because you are omniscient and know even what is hidden.
Muhammad Prophet
The best way to remember Allah is to say: there is no other deity but One God.
In 619, Muhammad had the opportunity to experience the second most important night of his life - the Night of Ascension (Laylat al-Miraj). It is known that the Prophet was awakened and carried on a magical animal to Jerusalem. Over the location of the ancient Jewish Temple on Mount Zion, the heavens opened and a path opened that led Muhammad to the throne of God, but neither he nor the angel Gabriel accompanying him was allowed to enter the beyond. That night the rules of Muslim prayer were revealed to the Prophet. They became the focus of faith and the unshakable basis of Muslim life. Muhammad also met and talked with other prophets, including Jesus (Isa), Moses (Musa) and Abraham (Ibrahim). This miraculous event greatly consoled and strengthened the Prophet, adding confidence that Allah did not abandon Him and did not leave Him alone with his sorrows.
From now on, the fate of the Prophet changed in the most decisive way. He was still persecuted and ridiculed in Mecca, but the Prophet's message had already been heard by people far beyond the city's borders. Some of the elders of Yathrib persuaded Him to leave Mecca and move to their city, where He would be received with honor as a leader and judge. Arabs and Jews lived together in this city, constantly at war with each other. They hoped that Muhammad would bring them peace. The Prophet immediately advised many of His Muslim followers to migrate to Yathrib while He remained in Mecca, so as not to arouse unnecessary suspicion. After the death of Abu Talib, the emboldened Quraish could calmly attack Muhammad, even kill him, and he understood perfectly well that this would sooner or later happen.
The Prophet's departure was accompanied by some dramatic events. Muhammad himself miraculously escaped captivity thanks to his exceptional knowledge of the local deserts. Several times the Quraysh almost captured Him, but the Prophet still managed to reach the outskirts of Yathrib. The city was eagerly awaiting him, and when Muhammad arrived in Yasrib, people rushed to meet him with offers of shelter. Confused by their hospitality, Muhammad gave the choice to his camel. The camel stopped at a place where dates were drying, and it was instantly presented to the Prophet for building a house. The city received a new name - Madinat an-Nabi (City of the Prophet), now abbreviated as Medina.
O Allah, I seek Your protection from cowardice and cowardice.
The man is sleeping; must he die before he wakes up?
Muhammad Prophet
Allah has forbidden you disobedience, disrespect and callousness towards your parents.
The Prophet immediately began preparing a decree according to which He was proclaimed the supreme head of all the warring tribes and clans of Medina, who were henceforth forced to obey His orders. It established that all citizens were free to practice their religion in peaceful coexistence without fear of persecution or disgrace. He asked them only for one thing - to unite and repel any enemy who dared to attack the city. The former tribal laws of the Arabs and Jews were replaced by the basic principle of "justice for all", regardless of social status, color and religion.
Becoming the ruler of a city-state and gaining untold wealth and influence. The prophet, however, never lived like a king. His dwelling consisted of simple mud houses built for His wives; He never even had his own room. Not far from the houses there was a courtyard with a well - a place that from now on became a mosque where devout Muslims gather.
Almost the entire life of the Prophet Muhammad was spent in constant prayer and in the instruction of believers. In addition to the five obligatory prayers that He conducted in the mosque, the Prophet devoted a lot of time to solitary prayer, and sometimes devoted most of the night to pious reflections. His wives performed night prayer with Him, after which they retired to their chambers, and He continued to pray for many hours, falling asleep briefly towards the end of the night, only to wake up soon for the pre-dawn prayer.
In March 628, the Prophet, who dreamed of returning to Mecca, decided to make His dream come true. He set out with 1,400 followers, completely unarmed, wearing pilgrim attire consisting of two simple white veils. However, the followers of the Prophet were denied entry into the city, despite the fact that many citizens of Mecca practiced Islam. To avoid clashes, the pilgrims made their sacrifices near Mecca, in an area called Hudaibiya.
In 629, the Prophet Muhammad began plans for the peaceful capture of Mecca. The truce concluded in the town of Hudaibiya turned out to be short-lived, and in November 629 the Meccans attacked one of the tribes that was in a friendly alliance with the Muslims. The Prophet marched on Mecca at the head of 10,000 men, the largest army to ever leave Medina. They settled near Mecca, after which the city surrendered without a fight. The Prophet Muhammad entered the city in triumph, immediately went to the Kaaba and performed a ritual circuit around it seven times. Then He entered the shrine and destroyed all the idols.
It was not until March 632 that the Prophet Muhammad made His only full-fledged pilgrimage to the shrine of the Kaaba, known as Hajat al-Wida (The Last Pilgrimage). During this pilgrimage, revelations were sent to Him about the rules of Hajj, which all Muslims follow to this day. When the Prophet reached Mount Arafat to “stand before Allah,” He proclaimed His last sermon. Even then, Muhamed was seriously ill. He continued to lead prayers in the mosque as best he could. There was no improvement in the disease, and He fell ill completely. He was 63 years old. It is known that His last words were: “I am destined in Paradise to remain among the most worthy.” His followers found it difficult to believe that the Prophet could die like a common man, but Abu Bakr reminded them of the words of revelation spoken after the Battle of Mount Uhud:
“Muhamed is only a messenger. There are no longer any messengers who once existed before him;
If he also dies or is killed, will you really turn back?" (Quran, 3:138).
Those who leave their parents in old age will not enter heaven.
“Do not lose hope in the mercy of Allah. Verily, Allah forgives sins completely, for He is Forgiving, Merciful.” (Az-Zumar, 39/53)
From history we know about the existence of many prophets. And we know most of the historical data through the scriptures. Such data also includes the existence of prophets: numerous historical facts confirm this. In particular, the existence and prophetic mission of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). You can agree with history or not, but we have no right to deny it.
How do we distinguish who was a prophet and who was not? Of course, just as we know which historical figures were doctors and philosophers, we also know who were prophets. But for this you need to have information about them, preferably from primary sources. When there is information, knowledge, by comparing them and weighing them on the scales of reason, you can determine who was a prophet and who was not, if there is no bias in the soul. In this article, dear reader, we will take a general look at the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) through the prism of reason.
1. The wisdom of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was an orphan, he did not have the opportunity to gain any knowledge, he had no special education (he did not graduate from school, institute, university, etc.). Moreover, he could neither read nor write. But his scholarship and intelligence are still surprising to this day. The Koran, which was sent down to him, and his sayings - “hadiths” - are the standard of wisdom and eloquence. Islamic scholars have written hundreds of thousands of volumes of interpretation of the Koran and Hadith. They admit that the Quranic sayings are an endless ocean of knowledge. This knowledge, like instructions, is followed by Muslims all over the world in all centuries. With the help of this knowledge, they curbed their passions, ego, turned away from the vile sinful nature and acquired praiseworthy qualities. Where did all this depth of knowledge come from for an illiterate person who has not received any special education?
2. Morality of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
During the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the Arabs were in a state of great moral decline: drunkenness, gambling, idolatry, adultery and prostitution, murder and burying children alive - all this flourished then. But at the same time they also had commendable, outstanding qualities: generosity, courage, bravery, hospitality. After the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) called them to monotheism and those who listened accepted Islam, their morality completely changed. They became truthful, fair, stopped committing sins - since then, the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became such outstanding role models that they changed the whole world. During the Caliphate, they brought high morals to Byzantium and Persia, taught and re-educated the people who grew up in these giant empires. The justice of Islam was so amazing and attractive to other people that the Byzantines, even remaining in their religion (Christianity), fought on the side of the Muslims against their own treacherous rulers. How could the Arabs, in such a short period of time, one or two decades, come themselves and lead others to such remarkable changes in moral terms?
3. Honesty of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was among the Arabs before his prophetic mission began. His nickname was Amin, which translates to " fiduciary " or " someone you can trust " He had outstanding qualities such as hospitality, helping the poor, maintaining family ties, and honesty. Until his fortieth birthday, he did not call people to anything and did not demand anything from them. But after sending down revelations and commanding him to call people to monotheism, those around him considered him a liar because of their envy and thirst for power - they were afraid that power would pass to him. Although their property, even at this time, was entrusted to him, because he was the custodian of the welfare of the inhabitants of Mecca. At that time there were no banks, but there were such people, distinguished among others by their honesty, whom people trusted to keep their savings - that’s how he was. One Arab in those days noted that the Meccans are amazing people because they trust Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in this world with their wealth, and do not trust him with regard to life after death. Could a person whose honesty has been impeccable for many years suddenly, suddenly become a liar, despite the fact that this quality supposedly affected only the fact that he calls for Islam, and otherwise his honesty remained impeccable even from the point of view of his enemies? No one could blame him for anything. There was not a single person who, having believed him, then turned away because he noticed the falsehood and untruth.
4. Trials of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The difficulties that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) experienced due to the call of people to Islam could not have been endured by anyone other than the prophet. They mocked him in every possible way, called him derogatory names, and his followers were tortured in a terrible way. For three years, everyone who was with him was in a boycott (in modern terms, an economic blockade) and suffered so much from hunger that they had to eat grass at times. No matter what the trials, he did not break and did not give up the truth in his words. If he had convictions about the falsity of his own words, why would he need to plunge himself into such trials that a simple person could not endure?
5. Did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) need power?
This is what those who are skeptical about Islam say. But in fact, because of the draft, he suffered a lot of grief and suffering from his own people. From history we know that the heads of the tribes living in Mecca came with Abu Talib (the Prophet's uncle) to him and offered him any amount of wealth, invited him to become the main one among all the inhabitants of Mecca, invited him to choose any women and promised to give him as his wife - as long as he refuses his call. To which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “Even if you give me the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, I will not abandon my obligations to Allah Almighty.” From this it is clear that, in addition to people following Islam, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) did not want anything. And there are dozens of such examples that he had no claims to power. So how can the ignorant claim that he did this in pursuit of power?
6. Did the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) want wealth?
We know that before the start of the call, Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was a wealthy man who generously shared his wealth and fed the poor. Their family had a good business: they sent trade caravans. But after the start of the call, he and his wife spent all their savings on the spread of Islam. They spent so much that they had nothing left of their previous wealth. There was a moment when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had a certain amount of money, and he did not go to bed until he distributed it to the poor, worrying that there were people in need, and rushing to them. Even when Islam was widespread throughout the Arab peninsula and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the head of a huge Muslim state, he had nothing at home except what the poor usually have. When he died, his saddle was held as collateral by a Jew for a small amount of cereal that he had purchased for his family. His companions and the righteous caliphs (rulers) of Islamic states were distinguished by the same qualities. What do those who claim that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took up his mission with dreams of wealth rely on?
7. Miracles of the prophets.
Miracles are evidence given to prophets to confirm their prophetic mission. Unusual things, contrary to nature and normality, can also happen from sorcerers, etc., but false prophets cannot do them. Allah Almighty does not allow this. All prophets were given the gift of performing miracles, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) performed miracles and predictions that later came true. For example, he predicted: the conquest of Persia, Byzantium and Istanbul by Muslims, at a time when they (the Muslims) were in the worst position. Examples of miracles: the moon was split into two parts by his prayer, water came out between his fingers (when it was necessary to give drink to a large number of those suffering from thirst), etc. There are more than three thousand miracles listed in the books that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed. blessing). Isn't this proof of his prophetic mission? After all, this proved the prophetic missions of all the prophets: Musa, Isa, Ibrahim (peace be upon them)...
Loading...