Prophet Muhammad: Universal Mercy
We sent you not except as a mercy for the worlds. (Al-Anbiya 21:107)
We have not sent you but as a universal (Messenger) to all people, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most people understand not.
(Saba 34:28)
We are in the blessed month of Rabiul Awwal - the month in which Prophet Muhammad was born. During this month Muslims talk more about his life and mission. We pray to Allah to keep us on the right path and help us to follow Prophet Muhammads teachings and example.
Allah says in the Quran that He sent Prophet Muhammad for the sake of His mercy to the worlds. Prophet Muhammad was a sign and an expression of Allahs mercy to every one. All prophets and messengers of Allah were sent as a mercy to their people, but Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to every one, to the whole world. It is important to reflect in what way he was a mercy to every one. How he fulfilled this mission of mercy and how we can carry on this mission as his followers.
Ways of Prophets Mercy: Ways of Prophets mercy are many. We can mention only few of them here. He was the most loving, kind and generous person. His whole personality was merciful. He was merciful to men, women and children. He was merciful to his own family and to all people. He was kind to the poor, slaves, widows, and orphans. He was merciful to animals. He was merciful to everything. He did not misuse anything. He did not waste or spoil anything. Everything he used with care and consideration. He lived a very simple and humble life. He did not show anger or arrogance to anyone. He did not ask his followers to bow to him, serve him or even to stand in honor of him. He did not take revenge from his enemies. He did not ever make aggression against anyone. When his enemies attacked him personally, he forgave them. However, when they attacked his community and the religion of Allah, then he fought them. He never began hostilities.
All the teachings of the Prophet - peace be upon him - are merciful and they bring mercy to the worlds. He taught truth, justice, honesty, generosity and humility. He taught chastity, care of family, love and kindness among the spouses. He taught love of children and respect of elders. He taught modesty and moderate lifestyle. He taught dignity to human beings and for human beings. He told that human beings should not bow to idols, icons and statues. Human beings should not worship other human beings. He taught that only God to be worshipped and we should not worship anyone other than Allah.
Prophet Muhammad - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him - taught that all human beings are one family. There should not be any discrimination among human beings on the basis of gender, race, color, tribe or nationality. He taught that no one should be compelled to accept Islam; there should be freedom of religion for all people. He taught justice for all people, even to enemies. He taught people to love their neighbors, to be kind to those who are under their care and authority.
Look at any aspect of Prophet Muhammads life and his teachings and you will see nothing except mercy. There is no exaggeration when Allah says in the Quran, We did not send you, except as a mercy for the worlds.
Fulfilling the Mission of Mercy: Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him- fulfilled his mission of mercy in his life and the world today can enjoy the fruits of this mercy. All those who truly followed Prophet Muhammad lived a life of love, mercy, success and happiness.
Look at the early community of Islam, the Sahabah and Tabiun. Look at their life before Islam and after Islam. They were nothing before Islam and then suddenly as they accepted Islam, they became the leaders of humanity. Wherever they went they brought love, peace and justice for all people. They were uneducated before Islam; but when they accepted Islam they started learning and within a short period of time, they became the masters of culture and civilization.
A historian Phillip K. Hitti remarked: If someone in the first third of the seventh Christian century had had the audacity to prophesy that within a decade some unheralded, unforeseen power from the hitherto barbarous and little-known land of Arabia was to make its appearance, hurl itself against the only two world powers of the age, fall heir to the one - the Sasanid - and strip the other - the Byzantine - of its fairest provinces, he would undoubtedly have been declared a lunatic. Yet that was exactly what happened. After the death of the Prophet, sterile Arabia seems to have been converted as if by magic into a nursery of heroes the like of whom both in number and quality is hard to find anywhere ...
The English social historian and philosopher, Robert Briffault, in his brilliant and profound book, The Making of Humanity, records the extreme debt modern Western civilization owes to Islam: It is highly probable that but for the Arabs modern European civilization would never have arisen at all; it is absolutely certain that but for them, it would not have assumed the character which has enabled it to transcend all previous phases of evolution. For although there is not a single aspect of European growth in which the decisive influence of Islamic culture is not traceable, nowhere is it so clear and momentous as in the genesis of that power which constitutes the paramount distinctive force of the modern world and the supreme source of its victory, natural science and the scientific spirit.
In an unusually honest tribute to Muslim science, famous science historian, George Sarton, said: The main task of mankind was accomplished by Muslims. The greatest philosopher, al-Farabi, was a Muslim; the greatest mathematicians, Abu Kamil and Ibrahim ibn Sinan, were Muslims; the greatest geographer and encylopaedist, al-Mas`udi, was Muslim; the greatest historian, al-Tabari, was still a Muslim.
Mission of Mercy Must Continue: Muslims have to continue this mission of mercy to the worlds. We cannot carry on this mission unless we truly adhere to Prophet Muhammads example and teachings. We should not only pay lip service to him, but we should love him, learn his Sirah and Sunnah and follow his way. We should keep our minds open and keep learning and doing good to all people.
We must define our mission. We all must have our mission statement. As individuals, as communities, organizations and states, we all must have a mission statement. The mission statement of every Muslim should be, I am the followers of the Mercy to the Worlds. I shall be a merciful person and I shall strive to bring mercy to the worlds by following the teachings and example of Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him.
I pray to Allah subhanahu wa taala to bless Prophet Muhammad, his family and followers and increase their love in our hearts.
(Khutbah at ISOC - Rabiul Awwal 3, 1425/ April 23, 2004)
We sent you not except as a mercy for the worlds. (Al-Anbiya 21:107)
We have not sent you but as a universal (Messenger) to all people, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most people understand not.
(Saba 34:28)
We are in the blessed month of Rabiul Awwal - the month in which Prophet Muhammad was born. During this month Muslims talk more about his life and mission. We pray to Allah to keep us on the right path and help us to follow Prophet Muhammads teachings and example.
Allah says in the Quran that He sent Prophet Muhammad for the sake of His mercy to the worlds. Prophet Muhammad was a sign and an expression of Allahs mercy to every one. All prophets and messengers of Allah were sent as a mercy to their people, but Prophet Muhammad was a mercy to every one, to the whole world. It is important to reflect in what way he was a mercy to every one. How he fulfilled this mission of mercy and how we can carry on this mission as his followers.
Ways of Prophets Mercy: Ways of Prophets mercy are many. We can mention only few of them here. He was the most loving, kind and generous person. His whole personality was merciful. He was merciful to men, women and children. He was merciful to his own family and to all people. He was kind to the poor, slaves, widows, and orphans. He was merciful to animals. He was merciful to everything. He did not misuse anything. He did not waste or spoil anything. Everything he used with care and consideration. He lived a very simple and humble life. He did not show anger or arrogance to anyone. He did not ask his followers to bow to him, serve him or even to stand in honor of him. He did not take revenge from his enemies. He did not ever make aggression against anyone. When his enemies attacked him personally, he forgave them. However, when they attacked his community and the religion of Allah, then he fought them. He never began hostilities.
All the teachings of the Prophet - peace be upon him - are merciful and they bring mercy to the worlds. He taught truth, justice, honesty, generosity and humility. He taught chastity, care of family, love and kindness among the spouses. He taught love of children and respect of elders. He taught modesty and moderate lifestyle. He taught dignity to human beings and for human beings. He told that human beings should not bow to idols, icons and statues. Human beings should not worship other human beings. He taught that only God to be worshipped and we should not worship anyone other than Allah.
Prophet Muhammad - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him - taught that all human beings are one family. There should not be any discrimination among human beings on the basis of gender, race, color, tribe or nationality. He taught that no one should be compelled to accept Islam; there should be freedom of religion for all people. He taught justice for all people, even to enemies. He taught people to love their neighbors, to be kind to those who are under their care and authority.
Look at any aspect of Prophet Muhammads life and his teachings and you will see nothing except mercy. There is no exaggeration when Allah says in the Quran, We did not send you, except as a mercy for the worlds.
Fulfilling the Mission of Mercy: Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him- fulfilled his mission of mercy in his life and the world today can enjoy the fruits of this mercy. All those who truly followed Prophet Muhammad lived a life of love, mercy, success and happiness.
Look at the early community of Islam, the Sahabah and Tabiun. Look at their life before Islam and after Islam. They were nothing before Islam and then suddenly as they accepted Islam, they became the leaders of humanity. Wherever they went they brought love, peace and justice for all people. They were uneducated before Islam; but when they accepted Islam they started learning and within a short period of time, they became the masters of culture and civilization.
A historian Phillip K. Hitti remarked: If someone in the first third of the seventh Christian century had had the audacity to prophesy that within a decade some unheralded, unforeseen power from the hitherto barbarous and little-known land of Arabia was to make its appearance, hurl itself against the only two world powers of the age, fall heir to the one - the Sasanid - and strip the other - the Byzantine - of its fairest provinces, he would undoubtedly have been declared a lunatic. Yet that was exactly what happened. After the death of the Prophet, sterile Arabia seems to have been converted as if by magic into a nursery of heroes the like of whom both in number and quality is hard to find anywhere ...
The English social historian and philosopher, Robert Briffault, in his brilliant and profound book, The Making of Humanity, records the extreme debt modern Western civilization owes to Islam: It is highly probable that but for the Arabs modern European civilization would never have arisen at all; it is absolutely certain that but for them, it would not have assumed the character which has enabled it to transcend all previous phases of evolution. For although there is not a single aspect of European growth in which the decisive influence of Islamic culture is not traceable, nowhere is it so clear and momentous as in the genesis of that power which constitutes the paramount distinctive force of the modern world and the supreme source of its victory, natural science and the scientific spirit.
In an unusually honest tribute to Muslim science, famous science historian, George Sarton, said: The main task of mankind was accomplished by Muslims. The greatest philosopher, al-Farabi, was a Muslim; the greatest mathematicians, Abu Kamil and Ibrahim ibn Sinan, were Muslims; the greatest geographer and encylopaedist, al-Mas`udi, was Muslim; the greatest historian, al-Tabari, was still a Muslim.
Mission of Mercy Must Continue: Muslims have to continue this mission of mercy to the worlds. We cannot carry on this mission unless we truly adhere to Prophet Muhammads example and teachings. We should not only pay lip service to him, but we should love him, learn his Sirah and Sunnah and follow his way. We should keep our minds open and keep learning and doing good to all people.
We must define our mission. We all must have our mission statement. As individuals, as communities, organizations and states, we all must have a mission statement. The mission statement of every Muslim should be, I am the followers of the Mercy to the Worlds. I shall be a merciful person and I shall strive to bring mercy to the worlds by following the teachings and example of Prophet Muhammad - peace be upon him.
I pray to Allah subhanahu wa taala to bless Prophet Muhammad, his family and followers and increase their love in our hearts.
(Khutbah at ISOC - Rabiul Awwal 3, 1425/ April 23, 2004)
