05.02.2012 - Prophet Muhammad [SAW]

Topic: Prophet Muhammad [SAW] 

Speaker: sister Noor Jehan


The prophet Muhammad [SAW] is the best example to emulate if we wish to live prosperous lives on the path of al-Islam.


Recall the following incidents in his life and how he [SAW] reacted to them. 

1. The story in which prophet Muhammad [SAW]  helped a non-believing lady carry her load. Along the way she kept mocking and malign the Prophet [SAW] - not knowing it was he himself that was the one helping. Yet, he said nothing. He continued to help the woman with her load. He didn't lash back at her; he didn't pray for God's destruction upon her; he didn't drop her load and let her fend for herself. No. He helped the woman anyway, and when she found out who he was, all she could do was follow him into Islam.

Yet, the fact that she became Muslim is not the most important aspect of this story. It was the Prophet Muhammad's character that is a lesson for us all here. It is this aspect of the Prophet's sunnah that many of us have completely neglected. 

In the video below, you can listen to Dawud Warnsby's nasheed that he made based on this conversation between prophet Muhammad [SAW] and the lady:

2. The story of Ta'if - one of the most heart wrenching incidents in the life of Muhammad [SAW]

The rejection the prophet (SAW) faced in the city of At-Taif was unimaginable. After the death of Abu Talib and Khadija (ra) he decided to undertake a journey to a new city, he had been preaching in Mecca for 10 years and he had given up hope of them accepting Islam. He had used every technique, he had implored them but they continued to be stubborn and mocking. The city of At-Taif was the neighbouring city of Mecca, as old and prestigious as Mecca. The tribe of At-Taif was the rival of the tribe of Mecca (i.e: the Quraysh). He journeyed his way up to the city of Ta’if which was at the top of a mountain. It was a rigorous and long journey: the city of Taif is at the very top of a mountain. Even today it takes an hour and half by car these days...Imagine (SAW) walking all by himself, thinking that people of Taif might be more open than people of Mecca. Upon arriving at the city he faced a bitter and cruel rejection.


1 Hadith can make us understand the impact of this incident had on Muhammad (SAW)'s psychic:


It is narrated in a hadith that Aisha (RA) asked the prophet Muhammad (SAW): "Oh Messenger of Allah, was there any day that was more painful than the day of Uhud?


[At Uhud, he was physically wounded, his molar teeth were removed, a spear was stuck inside his very cheek,  his blood spell from his face and on this day so many of his beloved companions died and his uncle Hamza was martyred]


 He replied: Yes, the day of Taif."


The rejection he faced from the people of Taif is the single most traumatic and difficult experience of his life:


The Prophet (SAW) approached the leaders of Taif
- They happened to be 3 brothers (their father was the chief, when he passed away they agreed they would rule together the city of Taif)
- He (SAW) told them about his message and the teachings of Islam
- He (SAW) asked them to embrace Islam and help him spread this message
- The 3 of them rejected him in the utmost of contempt and sarcasm
- One of them said: "Has Allah not found anyone more worthy than you to be the prophet?"
- Another one said: "I'm not going to speak to you. Why? Because if you are a liar then you are to ignoble for me to speak to. And if you are truthful then you are too noble for me to speak to."
- Not only did they reject him with the utmost contempt and ridicule, they then sent the slaves and the riffraff's of the city to physically pelt him with stones, to physically persecute and torture him.
- The prophet (SAW) had to flee for his very life down the mountain


...And the story continues in other books of Seerah where he made a beautiful du'a and the angel came and said "Oh Prophet (SAW), if you want Allah (SWT) has willed that you may destroy the city from the command of an angel and you may crush the people of Taif between 2 mountains. And if you want it is up to you what you want to do." 


The prophet (SAW) choose to forgive and said: "I hope that inshaAllah if they reject, perhaps their children will accept Islam." And this is exactly what happened.


- It was so easy to love the prophet Muhammad (SAW) - his characteristics made people love him.


- He is the only man on Earth about whom every detail is documented in the form of ahadith.


- In Surah 'Abasa, verse 80 (http://quran.com/80) we see that even a small frown from Muhammad [SAW] to a man was corrected publically by Allah [SWT] - a frown! What about us and our 'dirty looks' and mean stares?


- Therefore, since the smallest of actions were corrected, we can all rest assured that the bigger actions were all nothing less than perfect.


- When his uncle, Hamza (ra), was killed and mutilated...islamically revenge [equal to what was perpetrated] was allowed, but Allah [SWT] said (paraphrasing), you oh Muhammad cannot take revenge: you must forgive because you are the best example. Forgiveness is greater than revenge.


- As much as we focus on the outward sunnah we must focus on the inward sunnah - that is character as well because we know that the biggest weigh on the scale on the day of Judgement will be character and akhlaq. 


We also recall the story of the woman who use to throw garbage at the prophet Muhammad [SAW] every time he passed by her house...one day she didn't - Muhammad [SAW] went to her house to see how if she was okay. Subhanallah.


--- Jessica [a sister from the halaqa] shared her story about how before she became Muslim, she use to hate Islam. She hated Islam and one day she read about Muhammad [SAW] and that all changed. Today alhamdulillah she is a strong Muslimah - these stories never stop making us think and realize the greatness of the actions of Rasulullah [SAW].


He was indeed the best of examples. He shortened salah in the masjid to make it easier on the women praying in congregation who had babies and children with them. If we put that into perspective with today - deem yourself like if your masjid has a proper place for women to pray in to start with.


Many more stories were shared, stories that incited us all to read and learn more about Muhammad [SAW], alhamdulillah!