"We have sent you but as a mercy to the worlds." [Al-Qur'an 21:107]
As we enter the Islamic calendar month of Rabi al-Awwal, we welcome and honor the blessing of one of the most powerful and dynamic individuals to impact humanity: the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Usually around this time of year we hear amongst Muslims the debate of whether the Milad-an-Nabi is a bidah (innovation) or if it is permissible. However, I will not delve into the permissibility or the impermissibility of it. What is most important about this event is the legacy of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
As Muslims we believe in a concept of sadaqah jariyah (charity that continues to benefit others even after one is deceased). Sadaqah Jariyah includes the dissemination of knowledge, the building of a house for a traveler or a well people continue to benefit from according to the hadith:
"Among the actions and good deeds for which a believer will continue to receive reward after his death are knowledge which he taught and spread, a good son whom he left behind, or a copy of the Qur'an which he left as a legacy, or a mosque he built, or a house which he built for the traveller, or a stream which he caused to flow, or a sadaqa which he gave from his property when he was alive and well, for which he will continue to receive reward after his death." (Ibn Majah and Baihaqi)
In a world full of turmoil and instability we find lessons from the time of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) from which we can learn from.
In a world lacking mercy, from the average person to the politician and celebrity, we see a beacon of light in the life of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). From his personal to his public life we see instances of his mercy prevailing over seemingly human emotions. He would treat his family with love, caring and mercy. He would give out of his own wealth to the point where he wouldn't have enough for himself to eat. He would refrain from fighting or cursing anyone and would pray for their guidance. He would fight for the oppressed and the needy and support the orphans. He elevated the status of women and forbid the cultural practice of infanticide and many other cultural practices that were detrimental to society.
In a world lacking the softness of the heart and caring for others, we have much to learn from Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). His message of economic and social justice, equality, and freedom for all still resonates today. We see others who worked similarly for what Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) strived for: Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Mother Teresa and many other great figures in the world's history.
Imagine if we were to emulate this mercy in every aspect of our lives. We showered mercy upon our children, parents, friends and our community. We have the power to overcome the problems we face today. The issues and problems of racism, bigotry, hatred, greed, jealousy, violence, poverty, war, etc. can all be solved by showing mercy, love and caring to our fellow human being, just as the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) did. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) cared about people of all faiths, social statuses and ages.
A funeral procession once passed in front of the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) and he stood up out of respect. When he was told the person in the coffin was Jewish and not Muslim, he said: "Was it not a living (soul)?" (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Hadith 399)
Let us be beacons of hope, mercy, love, justice and freedom in dark times. Be the light of hope in a sea of darkness. Let us all leave a legacy of mercy on this earth, just as Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) did.
"God has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in heaven will show mercy to you." (Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 2322) -- Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him)
Engy Abdelkader: Using the Legacy of Muslim Women Leaders to Empower
Muhammad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Muhammad (prophet of Islam) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia
Since the 1990s, this has been ISNA's theme.
One wonders why some find it hard to believe them.
www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/8.pdf
al hamdulillah. The people who go around shouting haram all the time are the Wahabis. We don't force anyone to celebrate Mawlid. My sheikh taught me that what's really haram or halaal is how you celebrate. I am sure you know Imam, but I say it anyway. We are supposed to love our Prophet more than any other person on earth. If we go to masjid and eat and learn Islam, that kind of celebrating the birth of Prophet Muhammad is always halaal. We all go to the masjid and learn Islam, insha Allah and we give many of those gatherings names that did not exist back then. Family night is bidah under the wahabi rule and so is "Sunday School." For most of us, we say "celebrate" and if we don't mix with women for sex and drink booze, then it's halaal. When we strive to remember Allah and His messenger, it is extreme for others to call our gathering haram. If it is Eid and you drink booze, you are doing a haram celebration your Eid is haram. May Allah bless you Imam for your patience and reminding us about our Prophet. May Allah take away our fitnah and give us Muslims unity.
Luv ya!
Fee Amanallah
Then they kill domestic animals by the billion and eat them. This in turn kills people by the million, because eating all those animals leads to degenerative - and fatal - health conditions like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and cancer.
So then humans spend billions of dollars torturing and killing millions more animals to look for cures for these diseases.
Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being killed by hunger and malnutrition because food they could eat is being used to fatten domestic animals.
Meanwhile, few people recognize the absurdity of humans, who kill so easily and violently, and then plead for "Peace on Earth."
~Revised Preface to Old MacDonald's Factory Farm by C. David Coates~
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Anyone can break this cycle of violence! Everyone has the power to choose compassion! Please visit these websites to align your core values with life affirming choices: http://veganvideo.org & http://tryveg.com
The article would have been a lot more immediately accessible if it had been indicated, in English, at the beginning, that the impetus was the anniversary of the date of that person's birth, while indicating that there does not exist amongst practitioners of Islam universal consensus over whether to celebrate or otherwise observe that anniversary.
How much of what you cite about the way he lived his life came from what he wrote (or dictated), and how much from what contemporaries (sympathetic ones, one would presume) wrote about him?