Muslims must adopt the characteristics of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and follow his teachings in every walk of their life, said Swami Laxmi Shankracharya of Kanpur, chief guest at a Seerah programme organised by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Bihar at Anjuman Islamia Hall, Patna on 26 January.
In his thought-provoking speech, the Shankracharya said that we talk a lot about the life and salient features of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), but unfortunately we do not follow his teachings in our life. The Blessed Messenger won the heart of people and made them his followers with his conduct, character, lifestyle, sense of justice, truthfulness and patience; and these characteristics are still models for all mankind. The Shankracharya further said that the cruelty and oppression faced by Muslims in Makkah was the biggest act of terrorism in the world but even then Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) enjoined his followers to keep patience. It is very easy to ask others to do something good but difficult to follow himself but Prophet Muhammad practised whatever he said and enjoined his followers to do.
The Shankracharya said that the sense of forgiveness of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was extremely good and unique. Citing the way the Prophet forgave his once arch enemy Abu Sufiyan after the conquest of Makkah, he said the Prophet always looked for a chance to forgive and availed himself of it whenever he got it.
He said the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) always returned cruelty with forgiveness. When, after experiencing some cruelty, his followers asked him to pray to Allah for the ruin of rivals, he used to say that Allah sent him for mercy and blessings not for hating others. Citing the Battle of Badr, he said that the Prophet was so emotional at looking at the condition of prisoners that he could not sleep the whole night. Prophet Muhammad was so exemplary a personality that even after the passage of 1435 years we can achieve success by following his teachings.
With tears in the eyes and voice chocked, the Shankracharya said he was really misguided by the media projection of Islam and the teachings of Muhammad, and also with the characteristics of so-called Muslims. But thanks to a thorough of the Qur’ān, he said he has realised the truth.
Prof. Abuzar Kamaluddin, a renowned academician and Islamic scholar in Bihar was another Special Guest at the programme. He presented the teachings of Islam in the present context. He lamented that Muslims in general are not practising the teachings of Islam.
He added that Muslims should give priority to education and lead their life according to Islamic principles. The so-called Islamic scholars divided our education into two. This act of division put Muslims far from religious and common education. He also stressed the unity among Muslims. He said the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was revolutionary. Citing the Delhi gang-rape case and the commotion that followed, he averred that solution to these kinds of problems lies in the teachings of Islam.
The programme commenced with the recitation of the Qur’ān by Hafiz Ghulam Ahmad followed by the inaugural speech of Maulana Rizwan Islahi, local Ameer of JIH, Patna. Mr. Nayyer-uz-Zama, Ameer-e-Halqua, Bihar, presided over the programme. Former Ameers of JIH Bihar Mr. Qamrul Hoda and Mr. Ahmad Ali Akhtar, Chairman Sunni Waqf Board Mr. Irshadullah were also present on the occasion. About one thousand five hundred people, including women, government officials, police officials, doctors, engineers, academicians, students belonging to different communities attended this programme.