[Music]
A way of life. A way of life. A way of
life. A way of life. Islam is a way of
life. A complete way.
Do you know what Islam says? It says
that life's the greatest.
Greetings and peace. This is Dr.
Lawrence Brown. We now enter the phase
where we will discuss the prophethood of
Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam in
the Old Testament. The Old Testament
foretold the coming of three prophets.
We understand the first two of those to
be John the Baptist and Jesus Christ
leaving one unfulfilled prophecy. At the
same time when we read the New
Testament, we find Jesus Christ
foretelling one final prophet to follow
at the conclusion of his ministry. And
so again, the evidence for the
foretelling of the final prophet is not
an Islamic evidence is not just an
Islamic evidence. It is also to be found
in the scriptures of the Old and the New
Testaments. So to begin with I will give
an introduction to Muhammad sallallahu
alaihi wasallam. We will move on to two
more episodes where we will discuss the
evidences for his prophethood. For this
is the crux of the matter. Can we
validate the man Muhammad peace be upon
him as a prophet or not? That will
depend upon the evidence. So to begin
with, Muhammad Iban Abdullah was born to
the powerful tribe of the Kuresh in
Mecca in or around the year 570
CE. His father died before he was born.
His mother died when he was 6 years old.
And he was raised by a Bedawin family
who taught him caravan trading and sheep
hurting. He was known for certain
qualities even from childhood. He was
known for ethics and honesty,
gentleness, fairness, a very sober
nature. He was known for having a deep
contemplative spirituality which only
deepened and became more obvious as he
matured. By the age of 40, he had
secured a very comfortable life for
himself. He was married to Khadijah, a
well-known and wealthy businesswoman.
He had become himself wealthy,
successful in society, a member of the
powerful
tribes in the Quresh.
He had children, wealth, high social
standing. Yet it was at this point that
he started receiving revelation.
And despite the wealth, the high social
standing, the good position in which he
lived, he basically went on to
compromise everything that he had in a
worldly sense to bear the message of
revelation. He passed from this life in
632
CE.
Now, it would be easy for me to project
my opinion of the man Muhammad peace be
upon him. But what I would like to do
over the next few minutes is read the
opinions of others, historians,
religious analysts, orientalists,
and give you a flavor for their
appreciation of Muhammad peace be upon
him. As I read these, understand that
these are not the opinions of Muslims.
These are the opinions of non-Muslims in
most cases. In those cases where it is
the opinion of a Muslim, I will identify
it. But let us begin with Alexander
Ross.
No friend of the Islamic religion.
Alexander Ross was a declared
anti-Islamic
man. And yet, nonetheless,
this is what he had to say. Quote, in
speaking of Muhammad, quote, he did not
pretend to deliver any new religion to
them, but to revive the old one, which
God gave first to Adam, and when lost in
the corruption of the old world,
restored it again by revelation to
Abraham, who taught it, his son Ishmael,
their ancestor. And then he when he
settled first in Arabia instructed men
in the same. But their posterity
degenerating into idolatry, God sent him
now to destroy it and restore the
religion of Ishmael. He allowed both of
the Old and New Testament and that Moses
and Christ were prophets sent from God.
Keep in mind that this is what we
discussed in much of the previous series
of these episodes. Quote, he allowed
both of the Old and New Testament and
that Moses and Christ were prophets sent
from God, but that the Jews and
Christians had corrupted these holy
writings and that he was sent to purge
them from those corruptions and to
restore the law of God to that purity in
which it was first delivered. And is
this not what we have already discussed?
The fact that Islam
understands the previous prophets as
just that, men as prophets, including
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Christ. But
that at the same time, Islam understands
the word of God to be represented in the
Old and New Testaments, but that there
is corruption to the Old and New
Testaments as well. Hence the need for a
final clarifying revelation conveyed by
the final predicted prophet as
encountered in the old and new
testaments. Now a somewhat longer
description but very worthwhile simply
because in reading this I feel myself I
could not say it any better. This was
written over 200 years ago by Stanley
Lane Pool in a time when it was
dangerous,
not just difficult, but actually
dangerous for a man to express a
positive opinion of Islam. In England,
to express a positive opinion of Islam
200 years ago was to put your life on
the line. And yet, this is what Stanley
Lanepool wrote. Quote, "Muhammad was of
middle height, rather thin but broad of
shoulders, wide of chest, strong of bone
and muscle. His head was massive,
strongly developed, dark hair, slightly
curled, flowed in a dense mass almost to
his shoulders. Even in advanced age, it
was sprinkled with only about 20 gray
hairs produced by the agonies of his
revelations. His face was ovalshaped,
slightly tawny of color. Fine, long
arched eyebrows were divided by a vein
which throbbed visibly in moments of
passion. Great black restless eyes shown
out from under long heavy eyelashes. His
nose was large, slightly aqualine. His
teeth, upon which he bestowed great
care, were well set, dazzling white. A
full beard framed his manly face. His
skin was clear and soft, his complexion
red and white. His hands were as silk
and satin, even as those of a woman. His
step was quick and elastic, yet firm as
that of one who steps from a high to a
low place. In turning his face, he would
also turn his whole body. His whole gate
and presence was dignified and imposing.
His countenance was mild and pensive.
His laugh was rarely more than a smile.
Stanley Lane Pool goes from a
description of Muhammad Salah
to his habits. Quote, "In his habits, he
was extremely simple. Though he bestowed
great care on his person, his eating and
drinking, his dress and his furniture
retained even when he had reached the
fullness of power, their almost
primitive nature. The only luxuries he
indulged in were, besides arms, which he
highly prized, a pair of yellow boots, a
present from the Nagus of Abbiscinia.
Perfumes, however, he loved
passionately, being most sensitive to
smells. Strong drink he abhored.
He was gifted with mighty powers of
imagination,
elevation of mind, delicacy and
refinement of feeling. He is more modest
than a virgin behind her curtain. It was
said of him. He was most indulgent to
his inferiors and would never allow his
awkward little page to be scolded
whatever he did. 10 years said Anas his
servant was I about the prophet and he
never said as much as to me. He was very
affectionate towards his family. One of
his boys died on his breast in the smoky
house of the nurse a blacksmith's wife.
He was very fond of children. He would
stop them in the streets and pat their
heads. He never struck anyone in his
life. The worst expression he ever made
use of in conversation was, "What has
come to him? May his forehead be
darkened with mud." When asked to curse
someone, he replied, "I have not been
sent to curse, but to be a mercy to
mankind."
He visited the sick, followed any
funeral beer he met, accepted the
invitation of a slave to dinner, mended
his own clothes, milked the goats, and
waited upon himself. Related summarily
another tradition,
he goes on, he never first withheld his
hand out of another man's palm and
turned not before the other had turned.
He was the most faithful protector of
those he protected, the sweetest and
most agreeable in conversation. Those
who saw him were immediately suddenly
filled with reverence. Those who came
near him loved him. Those who described
him would say, "I have never seen his
like either before or after."
He was of great taceternity.
But when he spoke, it was with emphasis
and deliberation,
and no one could ever forget what he
said. After that beautiful description,
it's time to take a quick break. Please
stay with us. We'll be right back.
Welcome back. This is Dr. Lawrence Brown
and we are continuing this episode
painting a word profile of the prophet
Muhammad peace be upon him. I will
continue with another opinion not from
one of his friends but from one of his
enemies. George S, one of the early
translators of the Holy Quran hated
Islam and hated the man Muhammad. And
yet this is what he had to say about
him. quote, "For however criminal
Muhammad may have been in imposing a
false religion on mankind, now is there
any doubt that this man hates Muhammad
and Islam?" We learn the vehements of
his hatred from his words. And yet, see
how he continues, "The praises to his
real virtues ought not to be denied him.
Nor can I do otherwise than applaud the
cander of the pious and learned
Spanhemus, who though he owned him to
have been a wicked impostor.
Now these are his enemies, the worst of
his enemies. And yet they say, yet
acknowledged him to have been richly
furnished with natural endowments,
beautiful in his person, of a subtle
wit, agreeable behavior, showing
liberality to the poor, courtesy to
everyone, fortitude against his enemies,
and above all a high reverence for the
name of God.
severe against the perjured, adulterers,
murderers, flanderers, covetous, false
witnesses, etc. A great preacher of
patience, charity, mercy, beneficence,
gratitude, honoring of parents and
superiors, and a frequent celebrator of
the divine praises. And these are the
words of his enemy. So we see in this a
true picture of Muhammad sallallahu
alaihi wasallam in that if your enemies
speak well of you, how can there be any
bad to you? In a hadith in which Ali
Iban Abi Talib, the cousin of the
prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam gave
a description that is well respected.
quote, "He was not vulgar, nor did he
condone vulgarity,
and he was not one to shout in the
marketplace. He did not reward evil with
evil. Rather, he would forgive and
overlook." He never in his life struck
anything with his hand except when he
was fighting in the name of Allah. He
never struck a servant nor a woman. And
I never saw him take revenge for an
injustice dealt him, except if the
prohibitions of Allah were transgressed.
For if the prohibitions of Allah were
transgressed, he was among the strongest
of them in anger. He was never given a
choice between two matters, but he chose
the simplest of the two. If he entered
into his home, he was a man like any
other, cleaning his own garment, milking
his own goat, and serving himself. He
was continually smiling, gentle in
manners, soft in nature. He was not
severe, hard-hearted, loud, abusive, or
miserly. He would disregard that which
he disliked, and no one ever despared of
him. He never responded to disparagement
or evil words.
He forbade himself three things,
argument, arrogance, and that which did
not concern him. And he relieved the
people of three. He would not degrade
any among them or abuse them. He would
not search after their honor or private
matters, and he would not speak except
in matters which he hoped to be rewarded
for. When he spoke, his attendees would
lower their heads as if birds had
lighted upon them. Once he finished,
they would speak. They would not v with
one another in his presence to speak,
but when one would talk in his presence,
the rest would listen until he finished.
Speech in his presence was that of the
first among them. He would laugh with
them and wonder with them. He had
patience with the strangers when they
were gruff in speech and requests to a
degree that his companions would fetch
them to him. He would say, "If you see
someone in need, fetch him to me." He
would not accept praise except from
those who are balanced and not
excessive. He would not interject into
someone's speech unless they
transgressed in which case he would
either rebuke them or else leave.
In another hadith related by Bkari and
Muslim quote he was the most generous of
heart, truthful of tongue, softest in
disposition and noble in relationship.
The English archaeologist and scholar DG
Hogarth wrote as follows. Serious or
trivial, serious or trivial, his daily
behavior has instituted a cannon which
millions observe at this day with
conscious mimicry. No one regarded by
any section of the human race as perfect
man has been imitated so minutely.
The conduct of the founder of
Christianity has not so governed the
ordinary life of his followers.
Moreover, no founder of a religion has
been left on so solitary an eminence as
the Muslim apostle. And this is exactly
in accordance with what we described
earlier in one of my talks in which I
described how we find the example of
Jesus peace be upon him. His example
better exemplified in the appearance,
the manners, the practices of worship
and the creed among the practices of the
Muslims than among the practices of
those who consider themselves Christian.
And yet in both cases it is the example
of Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam
that is most closely exemplified, most
closely emulated among his followers.
His character was well documented by
Washington Irving. Quote, "He was sober
and abstious in his diet and a rigorous
observer of fasts. He indulged in no
magnificence of apparel, the ostentation
of a petty mind. Neither was his
simplicity in dress affected, but the
result of a real disregard to
distinction from so trivial a source.
His military triumphs awakened no pride,
no vain glory, as they would have done
had they been affected for selfish
purposes. In the time of his greatest
power, he maintained the same simplicity
of manners and appearance as in the days
of his adversity. So far from affecting
regal state, he was displeased if upon
entering a room any unusual testimony of
respect were shown him. If he aimed at
universal dominion, it was the dominion
of the faith. As to the temporal rule
which grew up in his hands, as he used
it without ostentation, so he took no
step to perpetuate it in his family. The
riches which poured in upon him from
tribute and the spoils of war were
expended in promoting the victories of
the faith and in relieving the poor
among its votaries. in so much that his
treasury was often drained of its last
coin. What is he saying? He is saying
all the wealth that came from the
position of his office he distributed to
the poor and needy and others who would
benefit. Omar Iban Alah Harit declares
that Muhammad at his death did not leave
a golden dinar nor a silver durham, a
slave nor a slave girl, nor anything but
his gray mule, his arms and the ground
which he bestowed upon his wives, his
children,
and the poor. Allah says the Arabian
writer offered him the keys of all the
treasures of the earth but he refused to
accept them.
And so we find in this the example of a
very human messenger described both by
his friends, companions
and allies but also by his enemies.
The point being that his attributes were
undeniable. For now, I will close this
segment with description from Hind.
Quote, the messenger of Allah was of
consecutive sorrows, continuous thought,
never finding rest long in silence. He
did not speak without cause. He spoke
with his full mouth. In other words, was
not arrogant and spoke concisely. His
speech was just with neither excess nor
deficiency. He was not pompous nor
denigrating.
He exalted all blessings no matter how
small and never belittled a single one.
And with that I would like to conclude
this section and we will plan to
continue inshallah with the discussion
of the evidences for the prophethood of
Muhammad Salah.
Until next time, this is Dr. Lawrence
Browning you peace and looking forward
to the next episode.
Do you know what Islam is?