Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ( 570 - 8 June 632);
.
Every Sufi order derives its roots from the spirituality of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). And considers him as the final link of the chain between ordinary human being and the Almighty Allah, which goes down through the able spiritual deputies of the Prophet, who carry the torch of divine light (Noor) in their heart that was ignited by the final Prophet (PBUH)
This link was established between the Creator and the creation on the Night of
Ascension (Mehraj), when Allah took His perfect creation Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to the
journey above the seven skies and gives Him His Audience -- a status which was
never given to any of His creation, even not to the angels at His service.
The
Sufi thoughts establish that the arrival of the Holy Prophet in this world was
not an ordinary event rather it was the highest culmination of Allah's mercy
upon the human being that He sends his Lover as "sufficient for the
humanity and mercy for the worlds."
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in Mecca on Monday, Rabi-al-Awwal 12, 53 BH,
or December 9, 571 AD, 50 days after the attack of Abrah, the ruler of Yemen,
with his army of elephants on Ka'aba (as described in Holy Qura'n in Surah Feel
-- Chapter Elephant). He belonged to the clan of Hashim. Banu Hashim was a
noble branch of the prestigious and influential tribe of Quraish. His father
had died before his birth. He was nursed by Sobia and then by Halima Sadia,
with whom he stayed for four years.
When he was six-year-old, his mother Syeda Amna fell sick and died in Abwa,
near Madina (then Yatrib). She was buried there. His grandfather brought him
up for two more years, until he also died. Orphaned three times at the age of
eight, he went to live with his uncle, Abu Talib.
He travelled to Syria to trade on behalf of Hazrat Khadija (R.A). He did good
business. Hazrat Bibi Khadija (R) was informed about his honesty, personality,
and his business acumen, she was very much impressed. Consequently, she
proposed marriage and he accepted her offer. He married her when he was 25
years of age and she was 40.
Since
His early age, He remained pensive and withdrawn in temperament and always
displayed an acute moral sensitivity. He avoided all kinds of luxuries, lust
and whatever may fall in the purview of bad habits. He never lied, never even
touched any sort of intoxicants, or passed near any game of chance. As a
traditional brave and noble Arab, he was forced to take part in tribal wars but
never had any one killed by his hands rather he opted for other difficult tasks
like helping the injured or removing them to safer places. In his ordinary
routine, he preferred to be alone and used a cave in nearby mountain called
Hira for contemplation and meditation under the faith given by Prophet Abraham.
He sought seclusion so as to reach the Divine Presence of Almighty Allah. In
view of such qualities, the Arabs rightly knew him as the Truthful and
Trustworthy (As-Sadiq Al-Amin).
When he was 35 years of age, the Quraish tribe was renovating the Ka'aba -- the
House of Allah. A dispute arose among them as to who should place the sacred
Black Stone (Hajr-e-Asswad) in its place. The dispute among them heightened to
a fierce proposition, when an aged man, taking the cognizance of the situation,
advised them to put off the matter for the next morning and leave it to that
whoever enters the Ka'aba precincts first and ask for his mediation. On next
day, the first one who entered the Ka'aba was Muhammad (PBUH). He (PBUH) then
resolved the dispute amicably by asking all the tribal notables to join hands
to carry the Hajr-e-Asswad near its place and then He (PBUH) himself lifted the
stone and fixed it in its place. Hence, a fierce battle among Arabs was
avoided.
In Hira, there appeared to Him the Arch-Angel Gebriel asking him to declare
himself as the Messenger of Allah. (Sal-al-Allah-o-Alaih-e-was-Sallam). Since then he preached Islam. Allah Exalted revealed upon him the Final Book,
the Holy Qura'n. For 13 years the Holy Prophet (PBUH) stayed in Mecca, calling the
people to Allah's religion, preaching the belief in one transcendent but
personal God, the last judgment, and social and economic justice. Allah, he
asserted, had sent prophets to other nations throughout history, but, having
failed to reform themselves, those nations were punished and perished by Allah.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) proclaimed the Qura'n revealed upon him by Allah, to be
the last revealed Book and himself to be the last of the prophets, consummating
and superseding the earlier ones.
In
public the Holy Prophet (PBUH) gave guidance needed for daily life and in private he
used to give the special advice needed for attaining the state of Ihsan
(perfect good character). That is why Abu Huraira (R.A) said in an authentic
Hadith mentioned in Bukhari, "The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has poured into my heart
two kinds of knowledge: one I have spread among people and the other, if I was
to disclose it, they would cut my throat." The knowledge Abu Huraira
referred to is the knowledge and the divine light he used to pour into the
hearts of those who had exalted themselves by strictly obeying him. It was
related to individual's own toil for seeking the nearness of Allah. And these
were the orders and attainments of the Prophet that make foundations of Sufism,
and it is believed beyond any shadow of doubt that this Noor, (Divine Light)
commonly called as the 'Amanat', shall always remain in the heart of a person
capable of carrying it till the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet's such
"Sufi" followers were countless. Each one had his own peculiar
status. But none of them was to the status of Abu Bakr Siddiq (R.A) who founded
the Naqshbandia Order.
The infidels of Mecca were unmoved to embrace the Islam. Instead those infidels
tortured ruthlessly all those who did believe him and made their lives
miserable. The new Muslims suffered all kinds of cruelty at the hands of the
unbelievers. However, insisting on the necessity of social reform, Holy Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) advocated improving the lots of slaves, orphans, women, and the
poor and replacing tribal loyalties with the fellowship to the Islamic faith. This
egalitarian and reformist tendency quickly aroused the enmity of the rich
merchants who dominated Mecca. They persecuted some of His weaker followers.
In 615 AD the Holy Prophet (PUBH) ordered 83 families to take refuge in Ethiopia. The king
gave them refuge and became a believer in the Prophet (PBUH). They stayed there
for five years and some of them returned to Mecca. In 619 AD, The Holy Prophet's
(PBUH) uncle Abu Talib and his wife Khadija Kubra (R) died who were his
staunchest supporters. As such this year is called year of sadness and grief in
the Islamic history.
A
year and a half later, there came the Night of Ascension (Meraj). He was
physically called to the Presence of Allah Exalted. He travelled accompanied by
Arch-Angel Gebriel from Mecca to Quds (Jerusalem) where he had the Prayers in
Masjid-al-Aqsa leading all the Prophets. From Quds, he ascended to the heavens.
All the prophets at the different levels of heaven came to greet him. He
ascended higher and higher to approach the Divine Presence, until Arch-Angel
Gebriel stopped and said that he could not continue further, or he would be
extinguished. So the Prophet (PBUH) continued alone. Driven by his love for
Allah, He approached closer and closer, achieving the State of utmost closeness
with Allah, seeing nothing except Him. Then Allah told him, "O Muhammad,
come closer." He moved nearer, so nearer to Allah like the gap between
"two ends of a (single) bow." [53:9]. At that time the Prophet (PBUH)
was seeing nothing but Allah, even inside his own self." This is the
perfect sign of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah), when nothing exists except Allah
Himself.
Sufis consider this stage as complete 'Fana-Fillah' (coalescence into the
existence of Allah), which Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) achieved by the sheer
blessing of Allah and any other follower can achieve this by truly toiling on
the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through His able deputy of the time.
He returned from that Journey of the Meraj (Night of Ascension), and the first
one to believe him was Abu Bakr siddiq (R). The infidels, hoping to ridicule
him, asked him to describe Jerusalem. He described it in all its details, and
the infidels were humiliated.
Later,
the Prophet went to the nearby town of Taif, where the local people, in their
own thought put the highest degree of humiliation and miseries upon him. The
infidels of Taif told their children to throw stones at him. The persecution
made the Prophet so hurt and physically feeble that he could not walk and fell.
Taifians thought they had killed him. Here Gabriel approached him and conveyed
him the message of Allah: "If You wish, Allah will perish Taif like He had
punished other non-believers of previous prophets." But the Prophet as
called by Allah as the Mercy for Worlds said: "I will bring them about
Islam."
After returning to Mecca, persecution against the Prophet (PBUH) and his
followers escalated. Then Allah sent him Ansar (helpers) from Yisrab (Madina),
a city about 300 km to the north of Mecca. A delegation from Madina approached
the Prophet (PBUH) and requested him to come to Madina and arbitrate into their
local feuds. They offered him considerable authority. After careful
negotiations, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) accepted the offer and asked his
followers to emigrate from Mecca to Madina.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) left Mecca just as his enemies had connived to murder
him. He (PBUH) left at night with Hazrat Abu Bakr (R) leaving behind Hazrat Ali
(R) to impersonate him in his bed.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) arrived in Madina eight days later on Monday Rabi-al-Awwal 1, 1
AH., or September 20, 622 AD. His flight became known as the Hegira (Arabic
Hijra, migration) and marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar year.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was given supreme authority in Madina, and he began to
establish the ritual practices of Islam and to carry out social reforms. He
(PBUH) soon converted Madina into the cornerstone of Islamic empire and the
first ever social welfare state in the world. According to Qura'nic
injunctions, He (PBUH) promulgated a complete code of life, envisaging every
aspect of human conduct. He also specified the rights and relationships of the
Muslims, Jews, and other groups of the world. The Meccans, meanwhile, persisted
in their hostility, demanding the extradition of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and
his Meccan followers. They were supported in Madina by a group, referred to in
the Qura'n as the hypocrites, who had submitted to Islam but were secretly
working against it. This group in turn was aided by the three Jewish tribes
that were residing in Madina.
In 624, the first major battle occurred, in which the Muslims, despite their
inferiority in numbers and weapons, soundly defeated the Meccans. In the next major
battle, the following year, the Meccans had the advantage but were unable to
achieve a decisive victory. A Meccan army of 10,000 besieged Madina in 627 but
failed to take the city. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) meanwhile eliminated his
enemies within Madina. After each of the battles he expelled Jewish tribes.
In 630, the Meccan infidels, unable to conquer Madina despite their number of
militarily expeditions and crippled by the severing of their trade routes,
finally submitted peacefully to the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) treated the
city generously, declaring a general amnesty. Tribal delegations arrived from
throughout Arabia, and their tribes were soon converted to Islam. The Holy Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), now the most powerful leader in Arabia, enforced the principles
of Islam and established the foundation of the Islamic empire. He ordered the
destruction of the idols in Ka'aba, the traditional place of pilgrimage in
Mecca, which then became the holiest shrine of Islam. He granted Jews and
Christians religious autonomy as "peoples of the Book," whose
revelations anticipated Islam. On his last visit to Mecca, at the time of Hajj
(the annual pilgrimage), he gave a sermon in which he summarised his reforms,
declared the brotherhood of Muslims, and repudiated all distinctions of class,
colour, and race.
Soon
after returning from the farewell Hajj, the Holy Prophet fell ill. He then moved to
the house of his wife, Hazrat Ayesha. He was sick for 12 days. He ordered Abu
Bakr siddiq (R.A) to replace Him as the leader (Imam) during the prayers.
He passed away on a Monday, Rabi-al-Awwal, 12, 11 AH, June 7, 632 AD). He was
given final ablution by his close relatives and wrapped in his nightgown. He
was laid to rest at the same place where he passed away, in the house of Ayesha
(R.A).
The secret of Allah's strong support and pure guidance passed from Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH) to his beloved friend and able deputy Hazrat Abu Bakr siddiq,
who succeeded him as his political successor (Caliph).
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was the most generous and just among the people and the
bravest. He was never afraid of anything in this world nor lured by any lust or
temptation. He was the most modest of his person, the most sincere, and the
most pious. He never spoke just to spend time. He preferred silence to speech
and never showed pride, although he was the most eloquent speaker.
Allah gave the Prophet (PBUH) mastery in all spheres of human conduct.
"Truly you are of a magnificent nature." And "The Kindest and
Most Merciful." - Qura'n.
Prophet Muhammad is the founder of Islam, whose prophetic teachings,
encompassing political and social as well as religious principles, became the
basis of Islamic civilisation and have had an impeccable influence on the world
history.
Some of the sayings of the
Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
* "Allah says: 'O my Friend,
had you been not there, I would not have created skies
and would not have manifested my Lordship."
* "There was time when I was
with Allah and no angel, dear one nor the prophets had access."
* "The Shaikh among his tribe
is just as the prophet among his nation."
* "If the Faith of Abu Bakr is
weighed against my nation, the pan of Abu Bakr's Faith
will be heavier."
* "Allah said, whoever comes
against one of My saints, I will declare war against him."
* "Allah's saints are under his
cloak (attributes of Allah). No one knows them except He Himself."
* "Speak the truth, even
detriment to you."
* "Make everything easy and
don't make it difficult. Give good tidings and don't cause people to run
away."
* "Allah says: O Son of Adam,
you will get what you have intended, and you will be with the one whom
you love more."
* "Be austere in this world and
Allah will love you. Be austere with what is in the hands of people and the
people will love
you."
* "The one who has the most
perfect mind is the one who is most fearful of Allah.
* "Refrain except from good
speech."
* "Give back the Trust and
don't betray it."
* "When Allah loves someone, He
will put him in difficulties."
* "When Allah wants good for
His slave, He will guide him to someone that shows him the way."
* "Forgive, and Allah will
forgive you."
* "Be merciful, Allah will be
merciful with you."
* "Allah manifests His epiphany
on all His.
