About the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h)

Supplement 8

Among the great virtues of Islam is the command to do good and the prohibition to do evil. The good should be preserved and the evil should be discarded. In short, Islam is actually composed of a series of commands and prohibitions. Allah the most Knowing, the Most Merciful, did not decree any law and regulations but for the good and benefit of his creatures.

The prohibition was decree because of its evil implications to humanity. The evils were created to test the human conscience and challenge their freewill in choosing between right and wrong. All the commands and prohibitions from Allah as transmitted through His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was intended to purify the human soul in order to live a pure and clean life adored by Allah (SWT) and human beings. Orderliness One of the teachings of Islam is about orderlin.

Discipline, regulation, management, planning and all other terms relating to organization are mostly considered as alien to Islam. On the contrary, Islam exhorts people to live in orderliness and to put the right thing in the right place. The foundation of Islamic order rests on two main principles, the crucial faith in one Allah (God) and the oneness of humanity. All the frame works were laid down in the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) applied himself to working out the essential details of that order. One of the great values taught by Islam in this regard is to make use of the time left to humanity.

The Qur'an and the Sunnah (Prophetic traditions) mentioned about time, day, week, month, year and century. People are lost if they did not spend the time available to them during this life for good things. It is a great loss if people have to waste the valuable time they have at their disposal for useless activities. It is true that life should be enjoyable but not at the expense of human resources and values which are essential for the continuation of their well-being.

Allah the Most Knowing had created time and space suitable for human activities for they can attain achievements in life. There are times for work, study, recreation, resting and even celebration. All are parts of activities in worshipping Allah (SWT) and serving His cause. The Qur'an says that Allah (SWT) had created the day for earning and night for resting and enjoyment.

He created the sun, the moon and all outer-space objects so that man on the earth can fix the time and arrange the calendar. By having standard time and standard calendar and the movements of astronomical objects, people are able to regulate their timetable in choosing the right moment for them in doing business and carrying out their activities.

Islam prescribes certain times for the daily prayers, certain month for the obligatory fasting and certain time in one's life time for performing the Hajj or pilgrimage which indicates that the religion brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) places the life of Muslims in systematic order. For every move and occasion made by Muslims there is a rule governing it, be it in the form of advice, spiritual guidance or practical directive. If all these directives are followed and understood properly, people will have high discipline and a well-managed life. Islam encourages people to think correctly before taking any decision. This means planning.

There are many verses in the Qur'an admonishing against doing things unthinkingly and jumping to conclusions. The Prophet (PBUH) also showed a good example in fulfilling promise and staying true to treaty, agreement or contract made between parties. As a man of honour he always remained true to the principles agreed in the treaty, depicting his high discipline and inclination of doing everything in proper order.

Friendliness Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a warmhearted and faithful friend. He loved his companions. He extended greeting to those he knew and to those he did not know. He treated all people around him with kindness and affection. He was very courteous to all those who met him. He never contradicted anybody who is not opposed to the teachings of Islam. He treated equally the humble and the lofty. He claimed no distinction and lived amongst his companions as if he was not their leader.

Neighborliness He regarded the neighbors as brother and sisters because of their closeness and living in the same vicinity. He once smelt the aroma of the soup cooked by his wife. He told her to give some of it to the neighbours who also smelt it. He said it was not right a Muslim to sleep with a full stomach after having had a good meal but let his neighbour starve.

He laid down the foundation for a friendly relation and co-operation among neighbours exemplifying that living as a neighbour, one has one's right and responsibility. In regard to the rights of a neighbour, the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Gibreel (PBUH) used to advise me to take good care of the neighbour until I thought he would make him my heit." (Bukhari Kitab Al Adab No. 28 and Muslim Kitab Al Bir No. 146)Goodwill He was a good exemplar to those who subscribe to a harmonious society. Islam exhorts people not to violate the rights of others and injure their interest, but should positively cooperate with each other and establish a mutual relationship and social cohesion.

To safeguard the unity and solidarity of the nation and to achieve the welfare and well-being of the community, Muslims have been enjoined to avoid mutual hostility, social dissension, backbiting one another, and hurting others with their hand or tongue. Islam as brought by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) exhorts Muslims to visit the sick, to help to the needy and assist the weak. Islam makes no discrimination on the basis of race, colour or language. Its appeal is to the entire humanity.

Respect for Women The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) brought changes for the betterment of womens conditions. Woman is recognized by Islam as a full and equal partner of man in the procreation of humankind. He is the father, she is the mother, and both are essential for life. Her role is no less vital than his. By this partnership she has an equal share in every aspect; she is entitled to equal rights; she undertakes equal responsibilities, and in her there are many qualities and so much humanity as there are in her partner. She is equal to man in bearing personal and common responsibilities and in receiving rewards for her deeds.

She is equal to man in the pursuit of education and knowledge. Islam enjoined the seeking of knowledge upon Muslim, it makes no distinction between man and woman, who is entitled to freedom of expression as much as man is. Her sound opinions are taken into consideration and cannot be disregarded just because she is a female. Islam grants woman equal rights to contract, to enterprise, to earn and possess independently. Her life, her property, her honor are as sacred as those of man. Islam has also given woman a share of inheritance. Before Islam, she was not only deprived of that share, but was herself considered as property to be inherited by man.

Statesmanship When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) arrived at Madinah, he initiated the formation of an Islamic state. After establishing politics, brotherhood and the authority of the state of Madinah, he began negotiations with various tribes around the city and made treaties with them. When the Makkan unbelievers launched a series of attacks on Madinah, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was able to confront them, and when the Makkans were finally defeated in the battle of Al-Khandaq (Trenches), he was able to make truce with them at Hudaibiyah for ten years. This treaty was a masterpiece of practical statesmanship on the part of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

His diplomacy in sending and receiving envoys to and from the various chiefs of tribes and foreign rulers, his fairness in conducting judiciary, and his general pardon at the liberation of Makkah, was another proof of his lofty statesmanship. The State he established in Madinah was not a matter of chance. It was the very nature of his mission that he would establish a state to enforce the way of Allah. People might accept a new faith but it would take time to change their habits, custom and ways of life.

And even if a small group of people succeeded in changing their ways of life there would be many others who would not let these people practice their belief and try to stop them by force. So the Islamic State became an urgent necessity to protect the Islamic way of life. The State founded by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was built physical force, as every state must necessarily be, to fulfill its function of stopping aggression and oppression. A democratic system in Islam is expressed through the term shura (council).

The Qur'an translation reads: [ And those who respond to their Lord and keep up prayer and their affairs [of government] by counseling among themselves and who spend out of what We have given them.] (Qur'an 42: 38) References: Abdul Hamid Siddique, The life of Muhammad. Beirut: Dar El Fath. Afzalur Rehman, Muhamma, Blessing for Mankind. London: The Muslim Schools Trust London. Ministry of Religious Affairs Pakistan, Universality of the Prophet's Message. Mohammed Hussein Hikal, Hayat Mohammed. Cairo: Dar Al Ma'arif.

Messengers of Allah (PBUT) Below are the names of the 25 Rasul (Messengers of Allah) Adam(PBUH); (Peace be upon him) Idris(PBUH). Nuh (Noah)(PBUH). Hud(PBUH). Saleh(PBUH). Lut (Lot)(PBUH). Ibrahim (Abraham) (PBUH). Ismail (Shmael) (PBUH). Ishak (Isaac) (PBUH). Ya'kub (Jacob) (PBUH). Yousuf (Joseph)(PBUH). Shuaib (PBUH). Harun (Aaron) (PBUH). Musa (Moses) (PBUH). Dawood (David) (PBUH).

Sulaiman (Solomon) (PBUH). Ayub (Job) (PBUH). Zulkifl (Ezekiel) (PBUH). Yunus (Jonah) (PBUH). Elyas (Elijah) (PBUH). Al-Yasa' (Elisah) (PBUH). Zakariyah (Zechariah) (PBUH). Yahya (John) (PBUH). Isa (Jesus) (PBUH).

Muhammad (PBUH) Remembering Allah (SWT) at all times. When starting to do something Bism-illah When intending to do something in future Insha-Allah When in pain and distress Ya-Allah When expressing appreciation Masha-Allah When thanking someone Jazak-Allah Khayran When awakening from sleep La-ilaha-illallah When thanking Allah or When sneezing Alhamdu-lillah When someone else sneezes Yar-Hamuk-Allah When repenting of a sin Astagh-Firullah When taking oath Wallah/Billah When someone supplicates Ameen When death message is received Inna-Lillahi-wa- inna-ilaihi Raji-ounWe wish to acknowledge and thank the collective efforts by the following in producing this booklet:

Ustad Rifyal Ka'bah Haji Mohd. Yuni bin Awi Imam Yakub Yusuf Vadia Abdul Rahim bin Raub Ustazah Habsah Hashim Fatimah Mohammed Norzah Yusof Rasheedah Amoo In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful