Character of the Gracious Prophet (Peace be upon him) (2/2)

How then, if the gracious Prophets had exceeded in this respect every other military commander throughout human history and this was only one aspect of the various aspects of his great character?

Suppose a man gave himself up to worship. His spirit was highly pure, and his heart always remembered Allah, whether in his prayer or work, in private or in public. So he was friendly to other people, sincere in his work, and ruled completely by fear of Allah and observance of His orders. Suppose such a man was able to collect a number of worshipers of Allah and bring them up to develop a strong relationship with the Almighty. They would remember Him (Allah) in all circumstances and would be influenced by faith in all their deeds, thoughts and feelings. Their love and fear of Allah were stronger than all earthly pleasures and temptations. Should we not say he was a great soul in himself and a great teacher to his companions?

This and others were parts of the gracious Messenger's character in which he was superior to those persons devoted to, and specialized in them. What are we to call the man who combined in his gracious person all those personalities, each of which would be sufficient to make him great?

The greatness of Muhammad (Peace and blessing upon him) does not lie only in the combination of those several personalities in his own persons, in fact he enjoyed a superior degree of greatness , one aspect did not distract him from another Political activity did not distract him from military, social, moral, educational or spiritual tasks. Even all those did not distract him from his family, so he was a perfect husband and father.

If we compare the character of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) with that of the other prophets we will grasp his superiority to them. All the great qualities enjoyed by them separately were all infused in his great personality par excellence. Noah was known for his endurance of his folk's obstinacy; Abraham for his clemency; Moses for his wise leadership of the sons of Israel; Jesus Christ for his spiritual aspect against the prevailing materialism. But Muhammad's character embodied all those characteristics and his influence was much greater in every one of those aspects. He was the final of prophets and his message was the epitome and the crowning of prophethood.

In the Glorious Qur'an, Allah tells us: “This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed my favor unto you, and have chosen for you as religion Al-Islam.” (Qur'an, Surah Al-Maidah, 5:3).

So the message of Islam confirms belief in all previous prophets and revelations. Jews disbelieved in Jesus Christ and Muhammad. Christian disbelieved in Muhammad and believed in Jesus Christ not as a messenger but as a god or son of God. It is the Muslims alone who believe in all prophets from Adam through Noah till Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Both Jewish and Christian nations are unfit to rule humanity, for they cannot get rid of hatred and prejudice.

Only the Muslim nation is well qualified for the leadership of mankind (it led mankind once for several centuries) because it is the only nation that rules without any hatred owing to the Divine guidance that made it fit for leadership, especially its belief in previous prophets of Allah without discrimination or malice whatsoever. Moreover, the message of Islam is addressed to the whole mankind.

Allah addresses Muhammad: “We sent thee not save as a mercy for the peoples.” (Qur'an, Surah Al-Anbiya’, 21:107).

According to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him): “Every prophet before me was sent to his own people, but I have been sent to the whole of mankind.”

It is also an all-embracing message. Earlier messages were limited to certain aspects of human life, and were limited in space as well. All of them included the major question of divinity (i.e. belief in the 'Oneness of God' and offering Him pure worship). They also included instructions and rules that suited the conditions and circumstances of each nation and aimed at the betterment of morals and the elimination of corruption.

The stage had come when the human mind was mature enough to accept a world religion which would last on earth till the Day of Judgment; such a world message must embrace, too, all human requirements in all fields of life, which is true of the Message of Islam. For it includes like other messages the major question of Divinity which is essential for the integrity of human life, and also canons and laws ruling all aspects of life: economic, political, social, intellectual, spiritual, ethical, etc. But it never opposes scientific progress. In fact, it was ISLAM that moved Muslims to set out a great scientific movement, the most important effect of which was the experimental method of scientific research which Europe learned from the Muslims in Andalusia, North Africa, Sicily and South Italy, and upon which our present scientific renaissance has been based.