The Holy Prophet Muhammad

God sent his messengers for guidance, and to create love and brotherhood among the people but unfortunately the history of religion is full of bigotry and hatred. The messengers were always the victims of violence. From Adam to this time, all the prophets without any exception, passed through the same channel of hatred and persecution. How nicely the Holy Quran has described this fact in the following verse: Alas for my servants! There comes not a Messenger to them but they mock at him. (Quran, 36:31) Torah, Gospels and all other scriptures support the reality of the verse of the Holy Quran. Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus Christ, they were all victims of violence, due to false charges leveled against them, and same was the fate of their followers. It is undeniable truth that in every age a great number of people labeled the true prophets as imposters and incited the general public against those innocent prophets. How great was the Messiah, Jesus son of Marry, but he suffered more than many other prophets by the hands of his own people. What was his sin? Nothing but the message of love.

But how his message was distorted and misapprehended and finally due to false charges he was hanged on the cross. It is a shame for those who did that, and they would never be forgiven the crime they committed against a blameless person. Some one can say that they were uncivilized people. They were ignorant about the moral and ethical values, but that is not so, they were the most civilized people of their age, but still they committed the heinous crimes. That was not the first mistake committed, rather that was the crime committed in every age and against every prophet. Similar is the situation created by those who could not understand the message of the Prophet of Islam. Unfortunately his teachings are totally misunderstood due to prejudice and narrow-mindedness. A wonderful prophet who brought a fantastic message for mankind, and produced astounding result.

His life is like an open book; nothing is hidden from birth to his burial. He appeared before the people as child, young and old, as son, father and husband, as subject and as ruler, as judge, king, general and prophet. He was really a wonderful man in every walk of his life. The prophet who is really the savior of mankind, is regrettably painted as terrorist in this age by some of the religious fanatics. I fear that the people should not be led astray by these religious extremist as it happened in the time of the other prophets, this is why this humble effort is being made to present the facts about the life of the Holy Prophet of Islam. THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (Peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) By Maulana M. A. Cheema

HIS EARLY DAYS
At the time of the birth of the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) the Arabs were sunk to a very low state. They were fond of intoxicants, gambling, and idol worship. Girls became such a shameful commodity among them that they would bury their infant girls alive for fear of disgrace. Women among them were considered as a commodity that was to be inherited by her husband just as they would take over his money or livestock. Slavery was rampant throughout the land. Instead of worshiping one God, the Creator of the universe, they had gods of wood and stones, molded with their own hands. There were 360 idols in the Holy Kaaba which prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael had built in Mecca. The house which was the symbol of the unity of God was taken over by the idols and pagan customs.

The system of pilgrimage which was established by prophet Abraham was totally distorted by the pagan rituals. Their pilgrimage was nothing but drinking, gambling and running naked around the idols clapping and whistling. Not only the Arabs were lost in the evils and immoralities, rather the whole world was deeply sunk in the transgressions, crimes and sins. The Holy Quran has drawn the picture of that era in the following words: Corruption has spread on the land and the sea because of what men’s hands has wrought, that He may make them taste the fruit of some of their doings, so that they may turn back from evil. (Holy Quran, 30:42) That was the time when the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was born in Mecca in AD 570. He was born an orphan, as his father died a few months before his birth.

The name Muhammad (the praised one) was given by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib. It was a long-established practice for the people of Mecca to leave their babies in the care of desert’s wet-nurses so that they were brought up brave, eloquent and in touch with the realities of desert life. So, for that purpose, the little baby was handed over to Halima, the wet nurse, and he spent five years with her. His mother died when he was about six years old, and his grandfather, who was his loving and devoted guardian, died when he was eight years old. He then passed into the care of his uncle, Abu Talib, the father of Hadrat Ali. This is confirmed beyond any doubt that his childhood and youth remained very pure and clean in the corrupt and debased society of Mecca. He lived in Mecca, among the idol worshipers, but he never paid homage to an idol, never ate of anything presented as offering to an idol. He never touched liquor, neither gambled, nor took part in any of the frivolous activities of his fellow youths. It is beyond the shadow of doubt that Almighty Allah fully safeguarded him against every kind of lapse. He arrived at his full maturity without the slightest stain on his character. HIS LOVE FOR GOD

Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had great love for the Almighty God, and since his early age he was trying to establish his relation with him. This is why he used to spend lot of his time in praying and supplicating to God. He was not after material world; rather he was in search of his Creator. When he was about forty years old, it was his routine to take a very small quantity of food and water to a cave named Hira, near Mecca, and spend days in prayers and fasting, just to seek the pleasure of the Almighty God. And finally in such a situation he received the first revelation from God, through angel Gabriel. That was the first appearance of the angel to the Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The angel said, “Read” and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “I cannot read.” Again the angel said, “Read” and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gave the same reply. Then for the third time the angel said: Read in the name of thy Lord who created.

Created man from a clot of blood. (Holy Quran, 96:2-3) And the Prophet started reading. The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was not a super being; he was a human chosen by God for the guidance of human beings. Almighty God has always sent the messengers from the people for their guidance, as the Holy Quran says: Say, “Had there been in the earth angels walking about in peace and quiet, We would have certainly sent down to them from heaven an angel as a Messenger.” (Holy Quran, 17: 96) All the messengers are like other men but it is their relation with God and the revelation they receive from Him which makes the difference as God revealed to the Holy Prophet of Islam: Say, I am but a man like yourselves; but it is revealed to me that your God is One God. So let him who hopes to meet his Lord, do good deeds, and let him join no one in the worship of his Lord. (Holy Quran, 18:111) So the best possible guidance from God comes to the people through the messengers in the form of revelations. And the relation of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with God was the best relation ever established by any human being with Him.

The love of God was oozing every moment from every word of his speech. And his every action was a witness that he had reached the highest point in the love of God. The love of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he had for his Creator is described in the Holy Quran in the following words: And He found thee wandering in search for Him and guided thee unto Himself. (Holy Quran, 93:8) The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had so much love for the Almighty God that even his opponents said that He was intoxicated in the love of his God. He loved God so much so that he became the beloved of God. Every moment of his life was a witness that he wanted to glorify and exalt the name of God. History is unable to produce a single example like him of any person who had so great a love for God. God loved him even more than that, and made him a victor in every field of his life. It was God who guided him and helped him at every step of his life. He was the Prophet of God; during his lifetime he was a businessman, a preacher, a philosopher, a statesman, an orator, a reformer, a lawgiver, a fugitive, a king. In every position he was close to God and God was close to him.

Commendable Love of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for God The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) loved so much Almighty God that God commanded him to make it known to the believers, to follow his footsteps in this regard, if they needed the remission of their sins and wanted to be the beloved of God. As it is mentioned in the Holy Quran: Say, If you love Allah, follow me; then will Allah love you and forgive you your sins, And Allah is Most Forgiving and Merciful.(Holy Quran, 3:32) In this regard Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) writes: Is it not a matter for wonder that a poor, powerless, helpless, and unlearned orphan who was alone at a time when every people possessed a plenitude of financial, military and intellectual means, brought such a bright teaching that he silenced everyone with his conclusive arguments and clear proofs?

He pointed out the mistakes of those who were claimed as great philosophers. He exhibited such power that he pulled down rulers from their thrones and put poor people on them in their place. If this was not Divine support, then what was it? Can anyone overcome the whole world in reason, knowledge, strength and force without Divine support? Who was with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when he first announced to the people that he was a prophet? Did he possess the treasury of any king relying on which he took on the whole world as his opponents, or had he at hi s disposal a force relying on which he had become secure against the attacks of kings? Our opponents know that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was at that time alone and helpless and without any means.

It was only God, Who had created him for a great purpose, Who was with him and was his sure support. (Braheen-i-Ahmadiyya, Vol. 1, pp. 119-120) Again the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him)