My Fascination: The Prophet Muhammad SAW

Sr. Shamim Ahmed was an indelible member of the Noor Magazine team for many years and served a term as Lead Editor.  She passed away two years ago, at the height of the pandemic and is dearly missed by those she left behind. May Allah have mercy on her and elevate her rank. Here we would like to share some of her reflections on our beloved Messenger SAW from our archives, may it serve as a sadaqah jariyyah for her and a reminder to us all.

When you look at the Seerah, the life and teachings, of this unlettered man from the deserts of Arabia you cannot help but be fascinated by the lofty qualities he displayed all his life since his childhood. He was truthful, had high moral conduct, and was full of modesty. He was so modest that his life was the embodiment of modesty and morality. The Qur’an says about him, “Say, I am but a man, like yourselves, but the inspiration has come to me that your Allah is only one Allah.” (Surah 18, ayah 110) The Prophet Muhammad SAW never performed showy miracles. Instead, he accomplished the greatest miracle by demonstrating one. His miracle was the Qur’an, which lasted beyond his time. It has become for more than fourteen hundred years a living book in a living language. Thf be e Qur’an has immortalized the Arabic language. 

Our beloved Prophet SAW was the practical embodiment of the Holy book. When asked about him, his beloved wife, Aisha (RA), answered: “He was a living Qur’an.” In the Qur’an, Allah SWT called him “the best model for mankind.” His life was an example of truth and trustworthiness. Due to these exceptional qualities, he was called “Sadiq and Ameen.” He kept his promises to the extent of suffering difficulties. Once a man asked him to wait for him at a certain place and saying he would return shortly. The man forgot, but our Prophet SAW stayed there for three days. When the person remembered he returned to find him waiting for him. He was very ashamed to cause the Prophet so much difficulty. Still, the mercy of mankind did not scold him or become angry at him; he just said: “You made me wait too long.”

Our beloved Prophet accomplished his duties at home and in society with amazing success. He carried the burden of his movement for the establishment of Islam. He endured twenty-three years of constant struggle, facing vehement opposition. He gave the message of monotheism and revolutionized the concept of religion, eradicating idol worship in Arabia. He recited the verses: “Truth has arrived, and falsehood perished: for falsehood is, (by its nature) bound to perish” (Surah 17, ayah 81).

He raised his voice and called out from the Mount of Faraan to the people of his country, who were drowning in ignorance and indulged heavily in idol worship and showed them the way to the truth. He made them recognize their Creator. He gave them their faith and belief and made them a strong community of Muslims and one Ummah. 

This model of humanity had a comprehensive personality. He was not only a religious leader; we see him as a commander and chief in all battlefields. In a series of battles from Badr to Khaiber to Tabuk, he was a brave and intelligent general who was always in the forefront. As a general, he was an expert in wars and weaponry, a leader who trained his companions and generated in them an extraordinary courage and strength. He helped them build up a virtuous character and conduct based upon strong faith. He also demonstrated his wisdom as a judge dealing with disputes justly. He not only was the judge for Muslims but even Jews who rejected him came to him for a fair case.

Prophet Muhammad SAW was a good father and husband and treated all his wives impartially. As a human being, he also had a sense of humor. Once an old lady came to him and asked if she would go to Jannah and he said: “Old ladies will not go to Jannah”. She started to cry. Then he consoled her that all the ladies will become young when they enter Jannah, this made the old lady happy. 

The Prophet SAW never fought with the intention to humiliate or humble his opponents. His objective always was the victory and triumph of the Truth. Muhammad SAW  was born poor and an orphan in the desert of Arabia, who rose by the grace of Allah SWT to the highest position, that of the greatest leader and the savior of humanity. The Prophet SAW lived a simple life in a modest house with only the bare necessities. He never wanted affluence. Once Omar RA, his close companion, suggested that as other kings and rulers of countries lived luxurious lives, he also should have some comfort for himself. His answer to Omar RA was that he preferred the luxuries of the hereafter over the Duniya. He never ate to a full stomach, sometimes he even starved. At the Battle of Tabuk when all his companions were digging the trench around Medina, one companion complained of hunger and revealed a stone tied around his stomach to suppress his hunger. The beloved prophet revealed two stones around his abdomen to suppress his hunger. He remained thankful to Allah SWT. 

Muhammad SAW, though unlettered (ummi) had a very strong memory and was exceptionally intelligent; he memorized all the verses of Qur’an with the help of Allah SWT. Almost all of his companions had memorized the Qur’an and it is still being memorized by millions of people whose language isn’t Arabic, this is the miracle of our holy book. 

Prophet SAW gave this message to mankind: I am a man like you, If I make a mistake I should be accountable to Allah. Even though he was a prophet he never thought of himself above accountability. He taught us that the Akhira (life after death) is undeniable, as the death in this Dunya is. Everyone will have to taste death and we will be answerable to Allah (SWT) for all of our deeds in the Dunya.

The Prophet should serve as a role model for the Muslim Ummah. We can find answers to the difficulties of our time through his teachings. His teachings guide us through all aspects of life, which should inspire us to find the solutions through studying his life and teachings.