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A review of the book by Syed Nadwi entitled Muhammad The Ideal Prophet.
Citation preview
i
Muhammad Muhammad Muhammad Muhammad
The Ideal ProphetThe Ideal ProphetThe Ideal ProphetThe Ideal Prophet
Saiyid Sulaiman NadwiSaiyid Sulaiman NadwiSaiyid Sulaiman NadwiSaiyid Sulaiman Nadwi
Reviewed by:
Norhiyah Mohammad Noor
Siti Fatimah Mohd Tawil
Junaiza Jarjis
1
Muhammad: The Ideal Prophet
Man, the perfect creation by Allah differs from other creations
because of the volition and consciousness given by Allah to them.
Since men possess the senses, consciousness, intellect, will and
determination they held responsibility for their own action. The
responsibility of men differs according to his competence and
depending on his strength. Based on al-Quran, 2:286;
“Allah tasketh not a soul beyond its scope”.
Men by nature inclined towards extravagance, thus he requires
knowledge and constraint to enlighten his path. The prophets and
the messengers of Allah have been sent to this world to give
guidance to their followers. As Allah said in the Quran:
“There is not a nation but a warner hath passed
among them”. (35:24)
“For every folk a guide”. (13:7)
2
Every prophets of Allah came to this world together with specific
duties according to the time and people in which they were sent to.
Some came to this world as a witness to Allah’s majesty like Jacob,
Isaac and Ishmael while Abraham and Jesus were sent as the heralds
of glad tidings. Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. was the last prophet
and messenger of Allah came to this world with the combined
qualities of all of his predecessors. Since Prophet Muhammad
S.A.W. was the last line of prophets, he was sent as a standard of
virtue and goodness for the guidance of mankind till the Last Day,
not only for his particular time and people. In this book, the author
Saiyid Sulaiman Nadwi clearly presents the life of the Prophet
Muhammad S.A.W. as an abiding historical model for all humanity.
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. held out as an ideal character or model
for humanity. This is based on the Prophet’s historicity which shows
the authenticity of the accounts of his life and character as a perfect
model based on reputed sources and methodical records put forward
by his companions, their sons and successors. Nadwi provides
comparison of the biography of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. with
other characters which came from various civilizations like
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Zoroaster of Iranian, Buddha, Confucius, and prophets like Noah,
Salih, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Zachariah and John. However the
writings of these characters were incomplete and there were missing
details of their lives and doings from the chain of history. The
works were also proven to be written long after the death of those
characters or the writer never saw the prophets. Some of the
writings were even fictitious for having the mixtures of fables and
folklore like the story of the life of Buddha.
Other than a complete chain of historicity, an ideal biography must
be comprehensive in which the character provides light and
guidance to the peoples’ need in different walk of life, besides
became the prophet or the founder of a religion. The complete
historicity of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. and Islam as the religion
sent down from Allah through him has proven Prophet Muhammad
S.A.W. as an ideal character.
This book also compares Islam with the religion of Jesus and the
religion of Moses. Based on this comparison, it shed the light on
indisputable fact of history that no other life other than Prophet
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Muhammad S.A.W. which is the most practical, comprehensive and
perfect.
The period during which the collection and compilation of the
traditions and the related historical data was completed can be
divided into three parts; first, the periods of companions. The
companions were the people who have transmitted directly some
saying or an act of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. to others. The
period of companions stretch up to before the first century of Islam.
Second phase is the period of tabiy’in and younger tabiy’in.
Tabiy’in is the people who had seen and conversed with some
companion of the prophet but not with the prophets himself.
Tabiy’in periods stretch from the first century of Hijrah until 150
A.H. The third period is the period of people like Muhammad b.
Ismail al-Bukhari, Muslim b. al-Hajjaj al-Qushairi, Muhammad b.
Isa Tirmidhi, and Ahmad b. Muhammad ibn Hanbal who started to
write their works after examining thoroughly the available materials
from the second phase of the narrators. The third period extends
from 150 A.H. up to the opening decades of the fourth century.
5
Nadwi further extends the discussion on the narrators to the
criterions or principles for historicity set by the Muslims. The
principles include the narrator from whom the narration was handed
down, should be eye-witnesses to the events recounted by him. For
a chain of narrators, who has transmitted the information from one
person to another, the character and antecedent of each should be
fully known. The scholars also need to satisfy about the moral
conduct, intelligence, and reliability of each intervening narrator.
The principles, history, and explanation on the narrators lead to the
existence of the sciences of asma-i-rijal.
The biography of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. can be referred from
the two major sources of Islam that is al-Quran and the books of
ahadith. Other than these two, the biography can be referred from
books such as maghazi (the journal of the battles fought by the
Prophet s.a.w), the books of history associated with the life and time
of the prophet like al-Tabaqat of Ibn Saad, Tarikh ar-Rasul wal
Muluk by al-Tabari, and al-Tarikh al-Kabir and al-Tarikh as Saghir
by al-Bukhari.
6
It also can be derived from the works describing the miracles and
spiritual attainment of the Prophet known as kutub-i-dala’il, from
the books known as shama’il which portray the moral, the habits,
manners and character of the Prophet and finally, from the books
purporting to be annals of Mecca and Madina such as Akhbar-i-
Mecca by al-Azraqi and Akhbar-i-Madina by Umar b. Shaiba. The
works of western orientalists like Pof. Dr. D.S Mongoliath, teacher
of Arabic of Oxford Univesity, a Christian biographer, John
Davenport, and R. Bosworth Smith also acknowledged the
authenticity of the biography of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
The statements like “The biographers of the Prophet Muhammad
form a long series which it is impossible to end, but in which it
would be honourable to find a place” (Mongoliath) and “of all the
law makers and conquerors there is not one the events of whose life
are more true and more detailed than those of Prophet Muhammad.”
(John Davenport) prove the unbeatable genuine biography of
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. written by Muslim scholars.
Nadwi elaborated more on the concept of perfection and
completeness of throughout the prophet life from his birth to death.
7
He is very detail in explaining the perfection of prophet’s life by
referring to the Shama’il of Muhammad by Isa Tirmidhi, a book that
discussed on the appearance, habit and character of the prophet.
Indeed, Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. was admired by all of his
companions. Obviously, there are many books that mention about
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. as a model such as kitab-us-Shifa’ and
Siratun-Nabi. The aspects covered on the books are like the daily
routine of prophet, his worship to Allah and his moral virtue
including character and behavior.
In this chapter, it was also mentioned about some of the enemies of
the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. who respected him. It can be seen
from one of the conversation between Abu Sufyan, the well-known
enemy of the Prophet with Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, where
Abu Sufyan without any hidden information confessed about the
truthfulness of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. Simultaneously, he
described and showed the perfection of Prophet Muhammad. Even
though it had been mentioned in the Quran, where certain verses
endorsed the Prophet, it was just a point that is pointed out by Allah
to ensure that the character of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. was to
8
be presented in the full light of the day and to maintain the ma’sum
status of the Prophet.
Nadwi made clear that by knowing Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. in
depth, it will make us contemplate the perfection of him as well as
increasing our love to him. Indeed, he was the only perfect man that
created by Allah in this ephemeral world.
Next, Nadwi touched the concept of comprehensiveness of
Muhammad as the ideal prophet and model which should be
followed and imitated by Muslims. Islam brought the ideal Prophet
that suited any aspects of human life first to be easy accepted by the
follower. In addition, it is to differentiate Islam with any other
religion. Besides that, Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. is a model which
can serve as a standard for every class of the people acting under
different circumstances and stakes of human emotions.
Nadwi elaborated more on the example of the Prophet’s
achievement in the battle with the Muslim enemies. All of these
examples are not mere fictions but actual facts. Prophet Muhammad
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is a great mu’allim that has a comprehensive character. He is
responsible for disseminating the light and guidance to all classes
and group of human being in all diverse situation of human’s life. In
other hand, the author also highlighted the comprehensiveness of the
Prophet with the distinguishing feature in him from the other
prophet like Abraham, Noah and others.
In Chapter 6, Nadwi covers the concept of practicality in Prophet
Muhammad S.A.W. where the obvious part is that he always does
what he has said. For instance, in performing prayer at punctual
time, he was the one who practices what he had preached. Indeed, in
the messenger of Allah have a good example. Besides, the concept
of zuhud and qana’ah were also practiced by the Prophet throughout
his life even though he held the high status as the messenger of
Allah. As much as he can, he tried to avoid being luxurious in the
life style.
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. himself stands as a protector and
commander to his people in battles and wars, and not just an
observer. He was also a good husband to his wives and good father
10
to his children. In short, he never failed to illustrate everything he
had preached using his own life as an example. It can be shown that
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. is to be presented by illustration and
model of practical morality in every part of life.
Nadwi further has given clear quotations from book of Torah,
Bible’s Old Testament and Bible’s New Testament on the arrival of
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. The verses in the Gospel affirmed that
it was not the last word of God, where in the Qur’an Prophet
Muhammad S.A.W. has been indicated as the Seal of Prophecy.
And that is not all; the message brought by the Prophet is universal,
that is for all nations from his prophecy until the end of this world.
Nadwi indicates this by comparing the principles of every religion
which comprises of 2 parts: the faith (imãn) and the action (‘amal).
The latter can further be subdivide into three namely devotions to
God (ibadat), dealing with people (mualamat), and morals (akhlaq).
All the scriptures of the religion prior to Islam address the first part
vaguely. In addition, Qur’an has successfully explained matters
related to nature and purpose of prophecy, retribution in the after-
11
life, hell and heaven, day of judgement, angels, worshipping actions,
morals, and social law, over the Gospels and Bibles.
Nadwi next lined out the 11 commandments that Islam perfected for
the Mosaic Law in Torah, whereas the latter has only 7. He then in
actual fact describes the principles of the message that Prophet
Muhammad S.A.W. has brought that is the place of man in the
universe, the fact that man is born sinless (unlike Christianity) and
the absence of discrimination of prophets.
In the final chapter, Nadwi brings his audience to the three causes of
deviation. He identified personification as the first root of being
astray where prior to Islam, the Aryans, the ancient Hindus, the
Greeks and the Romans envisaged their God in the shape of a
female. On the other hand, the Semites, the ancient Hebrews and the
Arabs imagined their God as the father or in a male shape. Nadwi
pointed out the Qur’anic verse that cleared all these misconceptions
where in Chapter 112 of the Qur’an, Allah has said:
12
“Say, He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally
Besought of all! He begotteth not nor was begotten.
And there is none comparable unto Him.”
Nadwi further claimed that the second cause is the deification of
divine attributes into separate deities, like the Hinduism where they
impersonated every divine attribute until the crowd of its deities
reached 330 million figures! Its pantheons’ hands alone showed the
power the Hindus are trying to express. The Christians too have
made 3 attributes out of one that is the Father, the Holy Ghost and
the Son of the Father. The message of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.
clearly stresses on the Oneness of Allah and His attributes are
countless.
The third reason Nadwi illustrated is the failure of human
themselves to comprehend the multiformity of divine acts and
manifestations. This relates to the primitive mind believing that
there must be different personas functioning simultaneously. The
idea of giving one god for righteous deed and another for anything
bad had occurred in many cultural thoughts, for instance the
13
Zoroaster who created twins out of this concept. Prophet
Muhammad S.A.W. corrected this thought through his message, that
there is only one God who is the author of whatever occurrence that
happens in the universe.
Another interesting aspect brought forward by Nadwi is on
worshipping. It is incontestable that worship has been the
fundamental discipline of every religion. The religions of yore,
however, had erroneous self-torture for veneration of God. They
were convinced that by suffering agony and encompassing body
pain would advance them to more piety and purity of soul. The
ancient Hindus’ misconception brought them to yoga and
monasticism. The Christians’ credence led to strange practices such
as abstaining bath, vowing to stand up, remaining in the sun, dwelt
on bare rocks, all for the rest of their lives.
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. enlighten the world with the Mercy of
Allah and His Eternal love showing that worship essentially consists
of the acknowledgement of complete and unquestioned loyalty to
the Lord and Master of the world. It is uplifting one’s heart to God
14
in complete surrender to actions that are demanded like fasting,
performing pilgrimage, payment of poor-due, being out of celibacy
and so forth. Offerings done in perverted beliefs were also corrected
by Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. by stating that it should be done
unto animals only, not including human. The practice of infanticide
too was threatened with dire punishment.
Nadwi brought the final light to the prime teaching by Prophet
Muhammad S.A.W. that is to look upon man as the same despite
colour and creed, caste and race. The practice of the Jews to look
down upon others while having the dogma of being the chosen ones,
and the ancient India that regards all other nations and races as
unclean, has been counselled by the Qur’an in Chapter 49, verse 13
bearing the message:
“O mankind! Lo! We have created you male
and female, and have mage you nations and
tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! The
noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best
in conduct.”
15
As a whole, Nadwi has efficiently brought forward every essential
point demonstrating Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. as the ideal
prophet, right from his personality straight to his messages. Lots of
verses engaged with Qur’an, Torah and the Bible were transcribed
to illustrate his points outstandingly. It is a great book to discover
Islam as a religion and a way of life, as much as the Prophet
Muhammad as the most ideal prophet that has ever been sent.
16
Reference
Book Review. Retrieved from
http://teacher.scholastic.com/wrItewIt/bookrev/index. htm
Nadwi, Saiyid Sulaiman (1977). Muhammad: The Ideal Prophet.
Kuala Lumpur: Islamic Book Trust.