Muhammad, “A Mercy to Mankind” What the Influential people say about people..." Hillary Clinton, Los Angeles Times, May 31, the great example of Muhammad, peace be upon him, but Muhammad and Islam 1996, p.3 they do not worship him in any way. Additionally, Islam teaches Muslims to respect all of God's Prophets and Who was Muhammad? Messengers - but respecting and loving them does not Although Muhammad () was one of the world's greatest "Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the Muhammad () was born around 570CE in Makkah, the mean worshipping them. All true Muslims realize that all personalities, very little is known about him in the West. United States..." New York Times, Feb 21, 1989, p.1 central religious and commercial city in Arabia. He was a worship and prayer must be directed to Almighty God However, many historians, professors and journalists direct descendant of the Prophet Abraham, through the alone. Suffice it to say that worshipping Muhammad - or have studied and written about him. lineage of Ishmael. He was orphaned at a young age, so "Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the anyone else - along with Almighty God is considered to be he was brought up by his uncle. He worked as a country." Newsday, March 7, 1989, p.4 the worst sin in Islam. Even if a person claims to be tradesman, married at the age of 25 and lived a modest Muslim, but they worship and pray to other than "Muhammed is the most successful of all and relatively uneventful life. He was however well- Almighty God, this cancels and nullifies their Islam. The Prophets and religious personalities." “Moslems are the world's fastest-growing respected and noted for his honesty and integrity, and as Declaration of Faith of Islam makes it clear that Muslims Encyclopedia Britannica group..." USA Today, the population reference bureau, such was given the title "The Trustworthy One". He used are taught only to worship God. This declaration is as Feb. 17, 1989, p.4A to spend long hours meditating in a cave around Makkah. follows: "There is nothing divine or worthy of being “It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify Here, at the age of 40, he started getting revelations from worshipped except for Almighty God and Muhammad is statements in the Qur’an about human Muslim worship All Mighty God, NOT Almighty God, through the Angel Gabriel. He the Messenger and Servant of God". development. It is clear to me that these Muhammad () immediately started preaching to his people, to direct statements must have come to Muhammad from their lives and worship purely to God alone, and to God, or 'Allah', because almost all of this The Prophet () has said: “Do not over-praise me as forsake all forms of idolatry (i.e. the worship of other than knowledge was not discovered until many the Christians over-praised the son of Mary. I am Almighty God alone). The testimony "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah" is centuries later. This proves to me that His slave, so say: 'Allah's slave and Messenger'” to believe that Muhammad () was only a man sent to us Muhammad must have been a Messenger of [Collected in Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim] To prevent people from worshipping him like previous by Allah (God) to be obeyed and that we do not worship Allah.” Professor Keith Moore, one of the world’s prophets had been, he always referred to himself as the him. prominent scientists of anatomy and embryology, at the Slave and Messenger of God. He and his early followers Muhammad in the Qur’an University of Toronto, Canada were persecuted for their beliefs, but many people began Allah has said: “Say (O Muhammad): "I am only a to become Muslim. As the persecution became severe he "My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the man like you. It has been inspired to me that Muhammad was mentioned in the Qur’an, the main and his followers were forced to flee to another city, world's most influential persons may surprise your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God i.e. Allah). So miracle of Islam. At the time the Qu'ran was revealed the Medeenah to the north of Makkah. In Medeenah, the some readers and may be questioned by others, whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let Arabs prided themselves on their eloquence, poetry, people accepted his message and made him their leader. but he was the only man in history who was him work righteousness and associate none as a literary and oratory skills. The Qu'ran however was From this position of strength he was able to spread Islam supremely successful on both the religious and partner in the worship of his Lord." (Al-Kahf – The unique. The eloquence, the rhetoric, the unique structure far and wide. The enemies of Muhammad () sent armies secular level." Michael H. Hart, p. 33, The 100: A Cave, 18:110) and internal arrangement, mesmerized the people. Men to wipe out the small Muslim community, however, Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, New were moved to tears on hearing its words, people thought although being significantly outnumbered they were able to overcome or repel the aggressors. Within a few years he York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc., 1978 Muslims are commanded in the Qu’ran (the final it was magic and amazingly some of the greatest was able to conquer Makkah. In victory, Muhammad () revelation of God) to worship none, but God alone. opponents of Islam became Muslims. How could was very merciful, and many of his former enemies, "I wanted to know the best of one who holds According to Islamic belief, the Prophet Muhammad was Muhammad (), known to be illiterate, produce the most including the leaders became Muslim. He stayed in today's undisputed sway over the hearts of the last Messenger of God. He, like all of God's Prophets outstanding work in terms of literary merit in a language's Makkah for 13 years, calling the people to the Oneness of millions of mankind.... I became more than and Messengers - such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and history? convinced that it was not the sword that won a God, Almighty. Then, the Prophet Muhammad () and Jesus - was only a human being. Christians came to the place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. some of those who accepted Islaam, migrated to mistaken assumption that Muslims worship Muhammad "And if you are in doubt as to what we have It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self- Medeenah. There he lived for 10 years and by his death, by formulating an incorrect analogy – some of them revealed to our servant then produce a chapter effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard at the age of 63, Muhammad () had spread Islam to worship Jesus so they assumed Muslims worship like it and call your witnesses or helpers besides for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends most of the Arabian Peninsula and his followers spread Muhammad. This is one of the reasons that they called God if you are truthful. But if you cannot, and of and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, the religion to most of the world. Muslims by the incorrect name "Mohammedans" for so a surety you cannot, then fear the fire whose fuel his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. many years! Muhammad, like Jesus, never claimed divine is men and stones which is prepared for those These and not the sword carried everything Muhammad () lived in the full light of history, his status. He called people to worship only Almighty God, who reject faith" (Al-Baqarah – The Cow, 2:22-3) before them and surmounted every obstacle. followers took great care to preserve his teachings. They and he continually emphasized his humanity so that Mahatma Gandhi in YOUNG INDIA are collected together today as the ‘Ahadeeth’ (recorded people would not fall into the same errors as Christians The following are just a few passages from the Qur’an that statements, actions or tacit approval) and are the source did in regards to Jesus. In order to prevent his deification, speak about Prophet Muhammad: "Everything made so much sense. This is the of Islamic Law with the Qur’an. Muhammad () the Prophet Muhammad always said to refer to him as beauty of the Qur'an; it asks you to reflect and explained, implemented and lived the teachings of the "the Messenger of God and His slave". Muhammad was reason....When I read the Qur'an further, it Allah (God), the Most High states: Qu'ran. He was able to establish a state throughout the chosen to be God's final Messenger - to communicate the talked about prayer, kindness and charity. I was Muslim lands, based purely on God's law, incorporating message not only in words but to be a living example of not a Muslim yet, but I felt the only answer for me all aspects of life. To Muslims, Muhammad () is the the message. Muslims love and respect him because he “Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you (really) love was the Qur'an and God had sent it to me." Cat supreme example for all people, he was the exemplary was of the highest moral character and he brought the Allaah then follow me (i.e. accept Islamic Stevens (Yusuf Islam), former British pop star. Prophet, statesman, military leader, ruler, teacher, Truth from God - which is the Pure Monotheism of Islam. Monotheism, follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah), Allah neighbour, husband, father and friend. His actions, Even when Islam was in its very early stages, God will love you and forgive you of your sins. And interactions with people and rulings form the basis of how "Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, revealed that Muhammad "was sent as a mercy to all of Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (Aali- Muslims live their lives today. a guide and pillar of stability for many of our mankind" - thus informing us that the message of Islam Imran – The Family of Imraan, 3:31) would become very widespread. Muslims strive to follow “Indeed in the Messenger of Allah (Muhammad) not know these things - so, again, if this wasn't true, “None of you believes until I am dearer to him than his Islaamic Information Series: No. 3 you have a good example to follow for him who certainly his contemporaries would have rejected his father, his child, and all of mankind” [Collected in Al- hopes in (the Meeting with) Allah and the Last Day claims. Suffice it to say that not only is the Qur’an the Bukhaaree and Muslim] and remembers Allah much.” (Al-Ahzab – The most memorized and well preserved scripture on earth, it Confederates, 33:21) is also unequaled in eloquence, spirtual impact, clarity of “Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): 1. To Muhammad message and the purity of its truth. testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah “But know, by your Lord, they can have no and muhammad is Allah's Apostle. 2. To offer the Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge Muhammad in the Bible (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and A Witness, Bearer of Glad in all disputes between them, and find in perfectly. 3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity). 4. To themselves no resistance against your decisions, perform Hajj. (Pilgrimage to Makkah) 5. To observe fast Tidings and a Warner In the Qu'ran it states Muhammad () was prophesized in and accept (them) with full submission.” (An- during the month of Ramadan. [Collected in Al- other scriptures. This fact is backed by the fact that many Nisaa’ – The Women, 4:65) Bukhaaree] of the early Muslims were learned Christians and Jews, who were expecting a Prophet in Arabia. When we analyze “Say (O Muhammad): "I don't tell you that with the scripture we find in the Bible, in Deuteronomy 18:18 Knowledge - The Cure to Ignorance me are the treasures of Allah, nor (that) I know God tells Moses () "I will raise up for them (the Jews) a the unseen; nor I tell you that I am an angel. I prophet like you from among their brethren." Christians but follow what is revealed to me by feel this prophesy refers to Jesus (). However, it is clear There is no doubt that Muhammad () was one of inspiration." Say: "Are the blind and the one who that this Prophet will be like Moses () and from the history's great individuals, whatever you believe in, sees equal? Will you not then take thought?" (Al- brethren of the Jews. The Jews are descended from Isaac wherever you are from, we ask you to find out more An'am – The Cattle, 6:50) (), and the Arabs from Ishmael (). Ishmael () and about this incredible man. Isaac () were brothers, the sons of Abraham (). Thus Muhammad did NOT Author the Qur’an the brethren of the Jews are the Arabs (Descendants of Ishmael). Moses () and Muhammad () were far more We invite you to learn more about Islam similar to one another than Jesus (). Both had natural In addressing the misconception that Muhammad could births, married, had children, were initially rejected by Request some of our other pamphlets from the have written the Qur’an, it is interesting to note that no their people, finally accepted and led their people (both Islamic Information Series: other religious scripture claims to the direct word of the religiously and secularly), had to flee their homeland,  Common Misconceptions About God Almighty in totality as clear and as often as the Noble overcame their enemies, brought forth new laws Qur'an. As the Qu'ran clearly says: "If it had been (established God's law) and had natural deaths.  7 Fundamental Questions on Islaam written by man, you would have found many  Misconceptions: Islaam is Only for Arabs? discrepancies therein". At the time the Qur'an was Do Muslims Worship Muhammad? Does It is important to note that the Jews were waiting for this revealed, the Arabs recognized that the language of the prophet at the time of Jesus (), they felt this prophet, Islam Degrade Women? Qur'an was unique and that it was distinctly different the one like Moses () was different from the Christ. In  Women in Islaam from the language normally used by the Prophet John 1:19-25, they asked John the Baptist whether he was Muhammad, peace be upon him. The Arabs of that time, Elijah, or the Christ, or "the Prophet". Thus showing that by the way, were known for their beautiful poetry and For Further Reading: they were waiting for two great Prophets, the Christ and Muhammad was known to be an illiterate man! The •www.islaam.ca "the Prophet". Muslims believe Jesus () was the Christ Qur'an clearly says that Muhammad was unable to read and Muhammad () was "The Prophet". •www.spubs.com Allah has said: “Say (O and write, so if this wasn't true, certainly his •www.bakkah.net Muhammad): "I am only a contemporaries would have protested and rejected him. man like you. It has been However, there are no reports of this. Certainly there were The Prophetic Narrations of Muhammad people who rejected Muhammad's message, just like inspired to me that your other Prophets were rejected, but none for this reason. On the contrary, Muhammad, peace be upon him, had All of Prophet Muhammad’s narrations are collected in Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God thousands of loyal followers and the results of their efforts volumes of books and are again referred to as ‘hadeeth’. i.e. Allah). So whoever hopes spread Islam from Spain to China in just over a century! It His words are separated from the Qur’an, which only has for the Meeting with his is also interesting to note that even though the Qur’an is the words of All Mighty God. Some examples of these Your Org. Details Here not poetry, the Arabs more or less gave up writing poetry narrations are as follows: Lord, let him work after it was revealed. It could be said that the Qur'an is the righteousness and associate piece of Arabic literature par excellence - and The Prophet () has said: Muhammad's contemporaries realized that the Qur’an Originally Published by The Reign of Islaamic none as a partner in the Da’wah | 874-A Weston Rd. Toronto, ON. Canada M6N was incomparable. 3R6 Call: 1.416.243.5320 Website: www.islaam.ca worship of his Lord." (Al- “All my people will enter Al-Jannah (The Garden) except Email: [email protected] those who refused. (On being asked about those who Kahf – The Cave, 18:110) Additionally, it is easy to prove that Muhammad did not refused, he replied) He who obeys me will enter Al- © Please reproduce, include original referencing possess a great deal of the knowledge which is expounded Jannah, he who disobeys me has refused.” [Collected in in the Qur'an: such as knowledge of historical events, Al-Bukhaaree] previous Prophets and natural phenomenon. The Qur'an Read On… says in several places that Muhammad and his people did