SPIRIT OF ISLAM JUNE 2O18

35 Spirit of Islam Issue 66 June 2018 The Prophet Muhammad is introduced in the Qur’an in these words: We have sent you forth as a mercy to all mankind (21:107) . T HIS shows that his distinctive quality was that he was a blessing incarnate in word and deed. It is reported in the books of Hadith that, when his opponents greatly increased their persecution, his Companions asked him to curse them. At this the Prophet replied, “I have not been sent to lay a curse upon men but to be a blessing to them.” His opponents continued to treat him and his Companions with injustice and cruelty, but he always prayed for them. Once he was so badly stoned by his enemies that the blood began to spurt from all over his body. This happened when he went to Taif where the Hijaz aristocracy used to while away their summer days. When he attempted to call them to Islam, instead of listening to his words of wisdom, they set the street urchins upon him, who kept chasing him till nightfall. Even at that point, when he was utterly exhausted and bleeding from head to foot, all he said was: “O my Lord, guide my people along the true path as they are ignorant of the truth.” His heart was filled with intense love for all humankind irrespective of caste, creed, or colour. He advised his Companions to regard all people as their brothers and sisters. He added: “You are all Adam’s offspring and Adam was born of clay.” All this tells us what kind of awareness he wanted to bring about in man. His mission was to bring people abreast of the reality that all men and women, although inhabiting different regions of the world, and seemingly different from one another as regards their colour, language, dress, culture, etc., were each other’s blood brothers. Hence a proper relationship will be established between all human beings only if they regard one another as sisters and brothers. Only then will proper feelings of love and respect prevail throughout the world. A true believer is one with whom others feel secure. One who returns love for hatred. The Prophet made it clear that one who would only return love for love was on a lower ethical plane. We should never think it is only if PROPHET OF ISLAM Love for Humankind One of the lessons the Prophet taught was that we should live among others like flowers, and not like thorns.