The greatest man to have ever lived
Confucious, Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King. These men are just a small selection of the greatest men to have ever lived. Now, I don't want to strip away the incredible achievements they have accomplished and their contributions to society. However, it is only right that I speak about the man who has ever influenced over a billion individuals and counting. No other individual compares to the greatest man to have ever graced this world; Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). His job wasn't just a messenger for Islam, it was to act as a guidance to the world. The values, character, friendships, and knowledge he possessed is not known by the masses. Yes, many have heard of Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) but not many know how he lived and the difficulty he faced. It is an honour to be able to talk about this man and to be a part of a generation who follows in his footsteps. I hope I do his history justice in this short post.
Before I begin, it’s a common misconception (due to ignorance) that because of the love we have for the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), people mistake this and assume we worship this man, which is from the truth. We do not worship the messenger of God (peace be upon), we follow his teachings and love him dearly because of his aid to mankind. Our acts of worship are to Allah and no one else. Okay, now that has been addressed, it is time to begin.
Character
Aside from the 5 pillars of Islam, manners play a huge role in our religion, and this was encouraged by the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him). Treating those around him with the utmost kindness and respect was one of the many reasons why he was beloved. Wanting the best for someone, truly and wholly without any sort of enviousness is a trait only of the good-hearted.
Leadership
As the perfect symbol of Islam, the prophet of God possessed leadership abilities that lead him and his companions to victory. He wouldn’t just lead but he would listen to his fellow friends on serious matters. Sitting around instructing was foreign to Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), he led by example and that’s just another reason why he was the greatest of all.
Rights of Women
At the time of the messenger of Allah, women were not highly regarded, nor did they have many rights. The prophet (peace be upon him) in the name of Islam abolished this system by giving rights to women. They were given the right to financial freedom, own property, and reject forced marriages. This act was a monumental move during the 6/7th century.
I didn’t want to make this post too long and intentionally omitted parts of his life, so you are left to find out more yourself. Not enough people outside of the religion of Islam know of him due to the negative outlook media portrays of Islam. There is much to learn about this man that even I am ignorant of, it fills my heart with joy that there is an abundance of history and sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon him), I have listed two quotes directly from the Messenger of God (peace be upon him) that I resonate with.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
Verily, among the best of you are those with the best character.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3366, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
Make things easy and do not make things difficult. Give glad tidings and do not repel people. Cooperate with each other and do not become divided.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3038, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi