Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) presented to the world a perfect model of brotherhood among human beings. During a short period of 23 years of his prophethood, he changed the complete Arabian Peninsula from idolatry to the worship of One God, from incessant ethnic scuffles to national solidarity, from dishonesty and decadence to spirituality and soberness, from mayhem and anarchism to harmony and decency and from moral bankruptcy of the pagan tribes to the highest standards of truthfulness. It has remained the unparalleled transformation of a people or a place in the human history till date. He taught that no race is superior to another. He said: one’s degree of faith and piety is the only criterion for preference in this world and also in the hereafter. What a better example for universal brotherhood can anyone illustrate than the prestige bestowed by the Prophet to the Abyssinian slave Bilal by ranking him among his esteemed companions?
When he started his mission at his birthplace Makkah, polytheistic tribes filled with fanaticism and superstition inhabited it. The Prophet’s commitment to his mission was impeccable. He neither wavered in his stand when he was threatened with dire consequences nor faltered when he was lured with worldly luxuries if he stopped preaching on One God. When the non-believers approached his uncle Abu Talib with the objective of dissuading the Prophet from propagating Islam – his words exemplified his strength of mind and character. He said, “Dear Uncle! By God, if these people even put the sun on my right hand and the moon on my left and ask me to give up my mission, I will not do it, even if I lose my life in the struggle.”
At Medinah, he had to face a volley of intrigues and conspiracies of the Jews and hypocrites. Even though he had at his disposal the power and the strength, he never imposed any restrictions. On the other hand, he gave the liberty for criticism and difference of opinion. He also never tried to thrust his personal ideas upon others. He asked his companions to strictly follow him in spiritual matters and allowed them to differ with him in worldly matters. At a time, when autocracy was the thumb rule in the whole world, the Prophet demonstrated a perfect model of democracy.
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was the first man in human history, who changed the status of women and gave them a level of independence and a degree of equality largely unprecedented in the world. In the period which is described by the civilised society as the ‘dark age of human history’, and when women were considered no more than child-begetting machines even in Europe, the sermon which he delivered on his last pilgrimage to Hajj is indeed the finest tribute to the womenfolk. He said “O People! It is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have right over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.”
In his farewell speech, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) also defended human rights for the meek, the old and the orphans. He established a set of sublime principles; in which he declared strict prohibition of transgression against people’s lives, property and honour. He laid down these principles long before the world knew of the Magna Carta in 1215, the Declaration of Rights in 1628, the Personal Freedoms Law in 1679, the American Declaration of Independence in 1776, the Human and Citizen Rights Charter in 1789, and the worldwide Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) also clarified the rights of the non-Muslims and guaranteed protection of their lives, children, property and honour. Even today in many Muslim countries there are Jewish and Christian citizens living in peace and security in contrast to the Europe’s tyranny in Spain, in which Muslims were exterminated in an ethnic cleansing that violated all humanitarian principles. In fact, the Prophet’s teachings include mercy even to birds and animals, and forbid harming them without right or reason.
Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) elevated the importance of morality in human life. He called for good manners, honesty, loyalty and chastity and strengthened social bonds such as being dutiful to parents and relatives, always putting into practice what he preached. He prohibited and warned against such negative behaviour as lying, envy, betrayal, fornication and disrespect of parents, and he treated the problems stemming from these diseases.
An illustration of his kindness for humanity can be had from his humane treatment with the people of Makkah at the time of his triumphant entry into the city. A conqueror on such an occasion would have ordered mass execution, as the people of Makkah who had given all sorts of miseries to the Prophet were lawfully guilty and deserved for stringent punishment. Instead, he declared: “There is no punishment for you today. You are all free.”
He preferred a life of extremely humble and simple living. He did not leave behind any wealth for his family nor acquire any property or establish any financial rights for his household during his lifetime nor did he leave behind any hereditary office of succession. From the social point of view, the Prophet preferred equal status for himself and never claimed any privileged treatment. On the battlefield or while travelling, digging the ditch or building mosques, he worked with his companions in carrying building material, breaking stones and collecting wood with his own hands. He did not approve people to stand before him as a mark of respect nor did he permit others to address him with the title of master or chief.
Ayesha is reported to have said, “He was just like other men. He himself took care of his clothes, milked his goats, stitched his torn apparels and mended his shoes and leather buckets. He carried loads, gave fodder to animals. If there is a servant, he worked with him and shared his labour. He himself brought provisions from the market and carried them in a sheet of cloth.” He was particularly keen on calling upon a sick person and on visiting him, he enquired about his health, sat by his side, passed his hands over his forehead and would pacify with soothing words: “God willing, you will recover soon.”
The Prophet’s idea about this world was that man should pass his life as a traveller who takes a little rest under the shade of a tree and then continues his journey. Therefore neither the Prophet nor his companions built big houses or furnished them. Their houses were just like rest houses where there was provision for protection from heat and cold and preventive measures against wild animals and for privacy in regard to essential necessities. His cot was twined with jute ropes, which he often used without the bedding and the marks of the rope were found on his body over which Umar once shed tears and said that while emperors of Rome and Iran lived in all lavishness, the Prophet leads a humble life. Once, a gunny bag sheet was four-folded and arranged for his bedding, which made the Prophet to get a sound sleep. When he could not wake up for his Tahajjud prayer, he instructed against making for him such ‘comfortable’ bedding.
The Prophet’s life is the perfect model for humankind. There is warmth as well as resilience, spiritualism as well as worldliness, leadership as well as respect for the individuals, and all features are evenly poised. The world has not seen a perfectionist and a benefactor of humanity like him. His greatest contribution has been to unite humanity on the principle of worshipping ONE GOD.