A Source of Eternal Inspiration and Guidance. After the Sept. 11 attacks against the US, some sections of the US media have been carrying on a campaign of vilification against Islam and its Prophet (peace be upon him). Sad as it is, we should not ignore the brighter side of the picture. This brighter side is that more and more people in the West are now evincing a keen interest to know more about Islam and its Prophet. This is especially welcome because most of the misunderstandings and the resultant hatred among nations and communities are a result of ignorance. The real problem, as I see it, is not clash of civilizations but our ignorance of civilizations other than ours. We, Muslims, are not entirely blameless on this score. We have not made any serious effort to explain to others what Islam and its Prophet stand for. Not many non-Muslims know how the Prophet welded a strong nation out of warring Arabian tribes based on a message of peace and brotherhood. The Prophet was born on Rabiul Awwal 12. His birth took place in a modest house in Makkah on a Monday in the Year of the Elephant, which corresponds to 571 C.E. Both his father, Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib, and mother, Amina bint Wahab, were well-known people. The Prophet never knew his father, who had died in the months before his birth. It was left to his grandfather to name him Muhammad. It is incumbent upon Muslims to know the teachings of the Prophet and to abide by the Qur’an, which was revealed to him. They should emulate his behavior and realize the importance of tawhid (monotheism) with which he began his message, as shown in Allah’s direction in the Qur’an: “Say (Muhammad), I pray unto Allah only, and I ascribe to Him no partner.” (Surah Al-Jinn 72:20). The Prophet Muhammad is the role model for every Muslim. We should follow his guidance in all things, large and small. Almighty Allah has blessed this Ummah by preserving the Sunnah and Sirah of His messenger. Despite the passage of time, both remain as though we are seeing and hearing them today. They provide a living example of the life of the Prophet. They also instill love and respect for him in the hearts of Muslims. Allah says in the Qur’an: “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah, you have a good example to follow.” (Surah Al-Ahzab: 33:21). The world is passing through a very dangerous period. Wars, famine, hunger and disease are ravaging parts of the globe. Even in the so-called advanced societies, life is far from trouble-free. We find violence in schools and on the streets, depression, poverty, dysfunctional families and a host of other problems that appear to be proliferating instead of showing any signs of abating. To make matters worse, there is a crisis of identity in the Muslim world. While social problems are few thanks to our strong family values, there is a growing indifference to other challenges that confront us. The terrorist bombings in Riyadh this month,Spain,Balli and the earlier ones should serve as a wake-up call. Intolerance is a rising menace. So are extremism and obscurantism. We are in the habit of blaming others for our own ills. As a people we are not given to soul-searching or introspection. We have failed to question why we are in this position. What have we done to alleviate our own suffering? We grovel in mortification and wallow in self-pity, unable to muster the courage to call a spade a spade and find solutions to our problems. We don’t have to imitate others. The life of the Prophet Muhammad is itself a beacon of light — a light of guidance that, if only we follow it, will lead us to safety. Those muslims who are in prominent positions in society should lead by example, for it would be disastrous if they lacked true awareness and piety. If we love the Prophet and believe in his message, then we have to follow him in everything we do. We must leave behind anything that is abominable — all that is indecent, whether in speech or in action. If an injustice is done to you, respond with a kind act by forgiving the one who wronged you. Do not take revenge; vengeance is the province of Allah. Free yourself by forgiving others and working to strengthen your relationships. The Prophet has taught us how we should treat the less privileged among us. He never tired of urging us to help the weak, the needy and women. Work hard and share with other workers, even if your work is digging in the ground or removing rubble; and be happy in carrying out the tasks you are performing to show your humility. Do not use abusive or rude language, even in jest. Do not direct evil deeds at any of your brothers or sisters. Let politeness and propriety in speech be your way of life. Be merciful to people and to animals. Be unafraid to speak the truth, even if it is against you. We must have role models. Let us seek them from people around us but never forget the one God has sent as a Messenger. Of all the prophets, there is none whose life has been as open to scrutiny as that of the Prophet Muhammad. We owe it to ourselves to learn everything about him. Can there be a more ennobling experience than to follow the example of a man who was sent by God as an example for the entire humanity? A High Standard of Piety and Commitment. Some of the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are well known. Their names are often mentioned, and their service to Islam is cited as an example for new generations. Others are not well known, but they might have been exemplary in their strength of faith, conduct, piety and commitment to Islam. We get to know these from one or two Hadiths or reports that reveal particular aspects of their characters. One of the companions was better known by his nickname Abu Qursafah, following the Arab custom of calling a man as the father of his eldest son. He is rarely mentioned by his own name, which is Jandarah ibn Khayshanah. We learn something of Abu Qursafah’s piety from the following report related by Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad on the authority of Bilal ibn Kaab, who says: “Ibraheem ibn Adham, Abd al-Aziz ibn Qarir, Musa ibn Yasar and myself visited Yahya ibn Hassan in his village. He served us with food, but Musa did not eat because he was fasting. Yahya said: ‘A companion of the Prophet from the Kinanah called Abu Qursafah led us in prayer in this mosque for 40 years, and he always fasted on alternate days. A son was born to my father, and he invited him to a meal on his day of fasting. He came and broke his fast.’ Ibraheem stood up and covered him with his own coat. Musa then ate.” This report shows that it is not only appropriate, but also desirable that a person who is fasting voluntarily should end his fast if he is invited to a function, or indeed if he is with a group of people and their host offers them food. It is wrong to stay fasting when the others are eating. This means that acknowledging his host’s kindness and returning it by eating takes precedence over continuing one’s voluntary fast. There is no doubt that the person concerned will gain a reward from God for his intention to fast, and will also be rewarded for his friendly manner to his host. This is the reason why Abu Qursafah, a companion of the Prophet who used to fast on alternate days, shared in the meal when he was invited to a dinner on his fasting day. His granddaughter, Azzah bint Iyad ibn Abu Qursafah, reports that one of her grandfather’s sons was taken prisoner by the Byzantines. At every prayer time, Abu Qursafah would stand on top of the wall of the city of Asqalan and shout to his son by name saying that it was time for prayer. His son would hear him every time although they were separated by hundreds of miles. This report is related by Al-Tabarani, with a chain of transmission that gives it an authentic grade. We are not surprised that this should be the case because God is able to accomplish His purpose. Since Abu Qursafah was aware that his voice would not be heard at such a distance, he trusted to God to communicate his message to his son. God responded by granting his wish which is expressed with complete trust and faith. It is not surprising to learn of Abu Qursafah’s unshakable faith. He was a firm believer ever since he embraced Islam as a young lad. His granddaughter reports that she heard her grandfather speaking about how he became a Muslim: “I was an orphan child living with my mother and my maternal aunt, and I had a few sheep which I took to graze. My aunt often told me not to go near the Prophet so that he would not lead me astray. But when I reached the grazing area, I often left my sheep and went to the Prophet listening to him. In the evening I would go home, but my sheep would have no milk. My aunt questioned me about my dry sheep and I protested that I did not know the reason for their having no milk. One day I heard him saying: ‘My people! Immigrate for God’s cause and hold fast to Islam. Immigration does not stop as long as jihad continues.’ I continued to frequent his place and listen to him until I embraced Islam, pledged my loyalty to him and shook hands with him. I told him about my aunt and my sheep. The Prophet said to me to bring my sheep to him. When I brought them, he wiped their backs and their breasts, praying that God blesses their produce. They soon were full of fat and milk. When I went home to my aunt and she looked at them, she said: ‘Always graze like this, son.’ I said to her: ‘I simply went to the same place I have been going every day. But I will tell you my news. I went to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and embraced Islam. I told her about him and what he taught. Both my mother and my aunt asked me to take them to him. All three of us went to see him together, and my mother and aunt embraced Islam, pledged their loyalty to the Prophet and shook hands.” (Related by Al-Tabarani with an authentic chain of transmission). This report indicates how people were afraid of going near the Prophet because they heard the unbelievers’ propaganda accusing him of leading people astray. Yet when they realized what he taught, they were impressed and were soon ready to accept Islam. This happened with different people at different times. It also tells us how the Prophet was kind to everyone. He did not put pressure on anyone to accept the faith until that person was ready. Abu Qursafah, a young lad at the time, went to listen to him time after time, abandoning his sheep, and the Prophet giving him time to think and make up his mind. When he was ready, he declared his belief and pledged himself to the Prophet as one of his followers. The Hadith also tells us that Muslims used to put their personal problems to the Prophet hoping for help. Abu Qursafah complains to him about his aunt and the problem he was having as a result of abandoning his sheep so as to listen to him. The Prophet takes the necessary action, and prays God to bless the sheep and their produce. Every prayer the Prophet said was answered in the most perfect way, which was a sign serving to reassure his companions. As the lad goes home, his sheep were full of milk, and he uses the occasion to tell his mother and his aunt about Islam. Soon they follow his suit and embrace Islam. ___________________________________________________________ How much mail storage do you get for free? Yahoo! Mail gives you 6MB! Get Yahoo! 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