A GLANCE AT THE INTELLECTUAL AND SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY PROPHET (SA) - Islamic Teachings in Brief [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

A GLANCE AT THE INTELLECTUAL
AND SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY PROPHET (SA)

According to authentic historical documents, the Holy
Prophet (SA) was brought up in an atmosphere which was the meanest
environment for living and was the centre of ignorance, corruption, and
moral vices. In such an environment and without academic education, the
Holy Prophet (SA) spent the period of his infancy and youth. Although the
Holy Prophet (SA) never worshipped an idol and was never involved with
inhumane demeanours; nevertheless, he was among such people, and his
ordinary life did not indicate such an eventful future; indeed it was
unbelievable on the part of a poor, unschooled, and inexperienced
orphan.

The Holy Prophet (SA) spent some time in this way until
during one night, while worshipping Allah with usual peace of mind and
freedom from worldly affairs, he suddenly gained a different
personality.

His quiet inner personality converted into a divine one.
The Holy Prophet (SA) regarded the thoughts and beliefs of thousands of
years of human societies as superstitious. With his realistic views, he
considered the customs and rites of the inhabitants of the world as cruel
and unjust. He linked the past and the future of the world and fully
recognized the path of man's prosperity. His observations and vision
changed totally. He did not see or hear anything except the truth and
reality. He began to speak of divine and heavenly words, wisdom, and
guidance. His natural state of mind which was occupied with reforming
daily routines in a poor atmosphere of trade and transaction grew stronger
and, so he embarked on reforming the world and its inhabitants and
subverting the thousands of years old organization of human aberration and
cruelty. He rose to revive the truth and reality all by himself and
challenged the terrifying and intense opposing forces of the world as if
they were nothing. He talked about divine teachings and derived all the
realities of existence from the Oneness of the Creator of the world.

The Holy Prophet (SA) described the sublime human ethics
in the best possible manner and comprehended and clarified their
relationships. He first believed what he said to anyone else. Also, he
first carried out whatever he asked the people to do.

The religious laws and precepts brought forth by him
consist of a series of worships and services which beautifully express the
servitude of man towards the grandeur and power of the Almighty Allah. He
brought other laws such as legal and penal laws which are completely
interrelated and which are established on the basis of monotheism and
respect for the sublime human ethics.

The set of laws brought by the Holy Prophet (SA) on
worships and transactions is so comprehensive that it deals with every
aspect of individual and social life that can be conceived of in the world
of humanity, as well as various needs and requirements resulting from the
lapse of time and issues instructions to fulfil them.

The Holy Prophet (SA) considered the laws of his religion
as universal and everlasting, i.e. he believed that his religion is
capable of eliminating the worldly and heavenly needs of all human
societies for ever. He thought that the people must adopt the same stance
in order to secure their prosperity. He frequently stated:

"The religion that I have brought guarantees y our
worldly and heavenly prosperity and happiness."

Surely, the Holy Prophet's (SA) statement was not in vain
and groundless, rather he arrived at this conclusion after studying the
creation and foreseeing the future of the human world. In other words,
firstly, after he recognized the complete harmony and coordination between
his laws and the physical and mental creation of man and secondly, after
he generally considered the changes that would take place in the future
and the harms that would be done to the Muslim society, he passed a
judgement on the durability and perpetuity of his religious precepts.

The prophecies of the Holy Prophet (SA), that have
reached us through authentic documents, have described the general
circumstances and conditions after his passing away up to the remote
future.

The Prophet (SA) performed all these tasks in a period of
twenty three years, out of which, he spent thirteen years under severe
torture and harassment of the unbelievers of Makkah. He spent the
remaining ten years in battles, campaigns, and external struggles against
overt enemies; in domestic campaign against the munafiqin and
trouble-makers;

and the management of the affairs of the Muslims, the
reformation of their beliefs, ethics, and deeds, and thousands of other
involvements.

The Holy Prophet (SA) achieved so much due to his firm
resolution in pursuit of truth and its revival. His realistic views were
only directed to truth. He did not follow what was contrary to truth even
if it was in his own interest or in the interest of the public. He
accepted wholeheartedly what was true and never refused it. On the other
hand, he refused whatever was false and never accepted it.

THE SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY

PROPHET (SA) WAS EXTRAORDINARY

If we impartially consider the subject already
covered we will have no doubt that the appearance of such a personality in
those conditions and circumstances was nothing but an extraordinary
occurrence and miracle and had no reason other than the special support by
Allah. Therefore, the Almighty Allah repeatedly mentions in Qur'an about
the earlier unschooledness, orphanage, and poverty of the Holy Prophet
(SA). The Almighty Allah states:

"Did He not find you an orphan and give you shelter?
And find you unable to see and show the way? And find you in want and make
you to be free from want? (93:6-8)."

Allah also states:

"And you did not recite before it any book, nor did
you transcribe one with your right hand...(29:48)."

Again the
Almighty Allah states:

"And if you are in doubt as to that which We have
revealed to Our servant, then produce a chapter like it...(2:23)."

THE CHARACTER OF THE HOLY PROPHET (SA)

The only basis and principle upon which the Holy
Prophet (SA) laid the foundation of his religion is the principle of
Tawhid which he recognized as the source of the prosperity for the
people of the world.

According to the principle of Tawhid only Allah is
the Creator of the world and worthy of being worshipped. We must not bow
down and pay homage to anyone except the Almighty Allah.

Thus the principle that must be practised in human
societies is for all to act like brothers and be equal with one another
and not to regard anyone as their unconditional sovereign except
Allah.

As the Almighty Allah states:

"Say: O followers of the Book! come to an equitable
proposition between us and you that we shall not serve any but Allah and
(that) we shall not associate aught with Him, and (that) some of us shall
not take others for lords besides Allah... (3:64)."

The Holy
Prophet (SA) pursued no objective other than the propagation of the
religion of Tawhid. He invited the people to Tawhid by the
best morality, the most cheerful disposition, and. the most convincing
reasoning and proof. He also advised his friends to follow the same
principle accordingly. As the Almighty Allah issued His order upon
him:

"Say: 'This is my way I call to Allah, 1 and those who
follow me being certain...(12:108)."

On the basis of his character, the Holy Prophet (SA)
regarded all people as brothers and equal to one another. He never showed
prejudice in carrying out the divine precepts and penance. He did not
discriminate between his acquaintance and the stranger, the weak and the
strong, the rich and the poor, the man and the woman, the black and the
white. He provided the people with their rights on the basis of the
precepts and laws of religion and states: "Even if my daughter Fatimah,
who is the most beloved of all people for me, commits a theft, I will cut
off her hand."

No one had the right of domineering, commanding, and
oppressing others. The people enjoyed the utmost freedom outside the
domain of the law (certainly freedom against law bears no meaning not only
in Islam but also in any other social order).

This freedom and social justice is stated by the Almighty
Allah in introducing His Holy Prophet (SA).

"Those who follow the Messenger Prophet, the Ummi,
whom they find written down with them in the Tawrat and the Injl, (who)
enjoins them good and forbids them evil, and makes lawful to them the good
things and makes unlawful to them impure things, and removes from them
their burden and the shackles which were upon them; so (as for) those who
believe in him and honour him and help him, and follow the light which has
been sent down with him, these it is that are successful. Say: 'O people!
Surely I am the Messenger of Allah to you all'..(7:157-158)."

This is why the Holy Prophet (SA) desired no privileges
for himself in his life. One could never tell that the Holy Prophet (SA)
differentiated from other people someone having a former acquaintance with
him. The Holy Prophet (SA) managed the chores of the house, welcomed
everyone in person, and listened to those who turned to him out of need.
He did not sit in the position and seat of honour. He did not have any
means of riding and official protocol for moving from one place to
another. If he earned some money, he would give to the needy over and
above his necessary expenses.

At times, he gave even his least available money to the
needy and lived with hunger. He always lived like the needy and associated
with them. He did not display the slightest procrastination in granting
the rights of the people, but he used the maximum connivance and
condonation for his personal rights. When the dignitaries of Quraysh were
brought before him after the conquest of Makkah, he did not display the
slightest harshness and pardoned them all, although they had treated him
most cruely before the Hijrah and had even provocated sedition
after the Hijrah.

In his humane ethics and virtues, the Holy Prophet (SA)
was conspicuously recognized among friends and foes. He was matchless in
sociability, cheerfulness, forbearance, modesty, soberness, and dignity.
As the Holy Qur'an has praised his munificent conduct by a statement:

"And most surely you conform (yourself) to sublime
morality (68:4)."

He took the lead in greeting those whom he met, even
women, children, and subordinates. One of his friends asked his permission
to bow down, i.e., to prostrate in front of him. The Holy Prophet (SA)
stated: "What do you mean? These are the customs of Caesar and Casra. And
I am for prophecy and servitude".

Ever since he was appointed to a mission by Allah to
propagate the religion and to guide and lead the people, the Holy Prophet
(SA) did not neglect his duty for a moment and did not refrain from his
untiring efforts. Thirteen years before the Hijrah, when he was in
Makkah although he faced unbearable difficulties caused by the Arab
polytheists, the Holy Prophet (SA) was constantly engaged in the worship
of Allah and the propagation of the religion of Allah. During the ten
years after Hijrah, the Holy Prophet (SA) conveyed the teachings of
religion and the laws of Islam with its amazing enormity to the people,
despite the ever-increasing troubles made by the enemies of religion and
the hindrances caused by the Jews and munafiqin pretending to be
Muslims. The Holy Prophet (SA) also fought more than eighty battles with
the enemies of Islam.

In addition to handling the affairs of the Islamic
society which at that time included the whole Arabian Peninsula, the Holy
Prophet (SA) personally looked into the complaints and minor requirements
of people without a doorkeeper and chamberlain attending on him.

With regard to the bravery and courage of the Holy
Prophet (SA), it suffices to say that with his rightful invitation, he
rose all alone against the world of that time which ruled the people with
nothing other than coercion and injustice. All the tortures and sufferings
inflicted on him by the oppressors never produced weakness and
disappointment in him. He never retreated in any battle.

The Holy Prophet (SA) kept himself very clean and neat.
He considered cleanliness and neatness as a sign of faith.

"Cleanliness is a part of the belief."

In addition to the cleanliness and neatness of his
clothes and body, the Holy Prophet (SA) was well-dressed and well-behaved
also. Whenever he wanted to leave the house, he would set out in the best
outward appearance. He particularly liked to use perfumes.

He never changed his disposition in the course of his
life. His life came to an end with the same modesty and humbleness.
Although he had such a valuable position, he never gave preference to
himself to demonstrate his social value.

During his lifetime, the Holy Prophet (SA) never insulted
anyone and never used empty remarks. He never laughed boisterously and
never performed disrespectful and worthless deeds. He was highly
interested in thinking and reflection. He listened to the remarks of every
afflicted person and the complaints of every protestor and then replied.
He never interrupted the speech of others and never marred the freedom of
thought; however, he clarified their mistakes and eased their
discomfort.

The Holy Prophet (SA) was very kind and tenderhearted and
was always saddened by sufferings; nevertheless, he did not waver in
punishing the criminals and the wicked and did not discriminate between
the individuals in carrying out the divine laws.

Once a Jew and a Muslim were accused of a theft in the
house of one of the Ansar. In this connection, a great crowd of
Ansar went to the Holy Prophet (SA) and insisted that the Jew be
punished for the sake of the prestige of the Muslims, specifically the
Ansar and keeping in view the overt enmity of the Jews. Since the
Holy Prophet (SA) discovered the truth contrary to what they had demanded,
he openly supported the Jew and punished that Muslim man.

Amidst the throes of the Battle of Badr, when the Holy
Prophet (SA) was personally organizing the arrays of the division, he saw
a fighter standing a little bit ahead of the others. The Holy Prophet (SA)
pressed his stick at the belly of the man to move him back a little and
get him in line with others. The fighter said, "O, Messenger of Allah! I
swear by Allah that my stomach is hurt and I should go for qisas
(Islamic reprisal)". Giving the stick to the man, the Holy Prophet (SA)
pushed his dress aside from his stomach and said, "Go for qisas".
The man ran towards the Holy Prophet (SA), kissed his stomach, and said,
"I know that 1 will be killed today and I wanted to touch your holy body".
Then he attacked the enemy and stroke with his sword until he was
martyred.

The Holy Prophet (SA) always patronized the weak and the
oppressed and urged his friends to inform him of the exigency of the needy
and of the complaints of the weak and not to procrastinate in this
regard.

It is related that the Holy Prophet's (SA) last words
were a recommendation to the people regarding the slaves and women, after
which he ceased speaking and passed away.

Peace be upon him and his
holy family.

THE
HOLY PROPHET'S (SA) LAST WILLTO THE MUSLIMS

The world of humanity, like other components of the
world of existence, is subjected to change and transformation. The intense
differences seen in the structure of human beings have generated various
tastes, as a result of which people vary in the quickness and dullness of
perception and comprehension and in the retention and forgetfulness of
thoughts.

Thus beliefs, customs and traditions which govern a
society will be subject to change and distortion in the shortest time and
will be eliminated, unless they have a stable root and trustworthy and
reliable guardians. By observation and experience, this matter will be
thoroughly clear to us.

To safeguard against this danger, the Holy Prophet (SA)
introduced a strong and steady document and qualified guardians for his
universal and everlasting religion and recommended the Divine Book (Holy
Qur'an) and the Ahl al-Bayt (AS). Thus all Islamic sects, as
concatenation, have related that the Holy Prophet (SA) had repeatedly
stated: "I entrust you with two valuable things, one of which is the Holy
Book (Qur'an) and the other my Ahl al-Bayt. These two will never be
dissociated from each other and you will not be led astray as long as you
will remain associated with them".