الأحد، 11 مايو 2014

The leader of all the Prophets and the messengers

The glorious Quran and Sunnah were revealed to Imam al-Anbia (The leader of all the Prophets and the messengers) Muhammad (p.b.u.h.). As Imam Tahawi said about him:
Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) is undoubtedly Allah's most exalted creature, His most beloved Messenger and a chosen Prophet. He is the last of the Prophets, Imam of all pious people, the Master of all the Messengers and the most beloved to the Creator of this universe. 

Such were the qualities due to which Quran was revealed to him. Ibn Masud beautifully mentioned the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) when he said, 
'Indeed Allah looked into the hearts of the servants and found the heart of the heart of the Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) to be the best of the hearts of His servants and so He chose him for himself and sent him as a messenger….. '

STATEMENTS OF NONMUSLIMS REGARDING PROPHET MUHAMMAD 

Timothy, Nestorian Christian and an eighth-century patriarch of the Assyrian Church stated:
Muhammad is "worthy of all praise" and "walked in the path of the prophets" because he taught the unity of God. He taught the way of good works; he opposed idolatry and polytheism he taught about God, his Word, and his Spirit he showed his zeal by fighting against idolatry with the sword; like Abraham he left his kinfolk rather than worship idols.

George Sale became the earliest Westerner to rise above bigotry toward Muhammad when he translated Quran into English from Arabic for the first time. That 1734 work, along with his clarifying notes, fulfilled his intention of giving "the original impartial justice." Sale, a Protestant lawyer, writes in his introduction:
"Muhammad gave his Arabs the best religion he could, as well as the best laws; preferable, at least, to those of the ancient pagan lawgivers."

For two centuries, Sale's work was the best single source in English for the study of Islam.

Later in the eighteenth century, distinguished historian Edward Gibbon gave a balanced treatment of Muhammad's character. Gibbon recognized that Muhammad was "endowed with a pious and contemplative disposition and that he despised the pomp of royalty." Gibbon thought that Europeans who stress the prophet's amorous activities have "maliciously exaggerated the frailties of Muhammad."

Thomas Carlyle, another outstanding English writer, became famous for his theory that "the history of the world is but the biography of great men." He discovered Muhammad to have been a sincere leader after approaching him in this positive manner: "I mean to say all the good of him I justly can." Carlyle rejected the characteristic European outlook of the preceding millennium, that Muhammad was "a scheming impostor." While laudatory toward the founder of Islam, Carlyle's appreciation did not carry over to the style of Quran as he read it in English. He confessed:
"It is as toilsome reading as I ever undertook a wearisome confused jumble."

Writing at the time of Carlyle in the nineteenth century, European historian Johann Doellinger asserted: 
"No other mortal has ever, from the beginning of the world, exercised such an immeasurable influence upon the religious, moral, and political relations of mankind, as has the Arab Muhammad."

In the twentieth century, non-Muslim scholars have increasingly acknowledged the greatness of Muhammad. For five decades Anglican bishop Kenneth Cragg has been writing books to publicize the admirable qualities of Islam and has translated selections from Arabic religious literature. He states: 

Bassetti-Sani is aware that the Bible contains this promise to Abraham: 
"As for lshmael, I have heard you; I will bless him ... and make him a great nation."

According to Muslim tradition, Muhammad is a descendant of Hagar's grandson Nebaioth (or Nabit).

Alfred Guillaume, the English translator of the most important Arabic biographical sources on the prophet, writes: 
"Trustworthy tradition depicts a man of amazing ability in winning men's hearts by persuasion and in coercing and disarming his opponents. . . . He stands out as one of the great figures of history."

Historian Will Durant likewise concludes his treatment of Muhammad with this tribute:

If we judge greatness by influence, he was one of the giants of history. He undertook to raise the spiritual and moral level of a people harassed into barbarism by heat and foodless wastes, and he succeeded more completely than any other reformer seldom has any man so fully realized his dream.... When he began, Arabia was a desert flotsam of idolatrous tribes; when he died it was a nation.

Michael Hart, a contemporary American scientist, offers a similar estimate of Muhammad's impact. Hart ranks the three most influential persons in history in this order: Muhammad, Isaac Newton, and Jesus. Hart places Muhammad at the top of his list of one hundred humans because he was "the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels." Within a century, his followers controlled the largest empire in human history.



http://hassanelagouz.blogspot.com/

Why i used the word "Greatest" with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when all Prophets are equal.

Many People said that in Quran it is mentioned that all Prophets are equal so i should remove the word "Greatest" from the name of this page.

No doubt there are many verses of Quran and Hadees saying to make no distinction between any of the messengers.

(2:136) Say (O Muslims), "We believe in Allah and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrâhim (Abraham), Ismâ'il (Ishmael), Ishâque (Isaac), Ya'qûb (Jacob), and to Al-Asbât [the twelve sons of Ya'qûb (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Mûsa (Moses) and 'Iesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islâm)."



(4:152) But those who believed in Allah and (all) His Messengers and, (in embracing faith,) made no distinction between any of these (Messengers), He will soon pay them their rewards. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Ever-Merciful.

In Some Hadees Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said the same thing.

My humble explanation, when i used the word "greatest" with Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) it was not that i was looking down toward other Prophets but it was just because of the love of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and what Quran is forbidding Muslims to do is to look down to other prophets like Jews and christens did. My love and the word "greatest" for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is also according to Quran and Hadees.

In Quran Allah says,
“Allah chooses Messengers from angels and from men. Verily, Allah is All-Hearer, All-Seer” [al-Hajj 22:75]

“Those Messengers! I preferred some  of them to others; to some of them Allah spoke (directly); others He raised to degrees (of honour)” [al-Baqarah 2:253]

  Allah tells us that He chose and selected these Messengers from among mankind. After mentioning some of the Prophets and Messengers,

He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And also some of their fathers and their progeny and their brethren, We chose them, and We guided them to the Straight Path” [al-An’aam 6:87].

And Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And Allah has preferred some of you above others in wealth and properties” [al-Nahl 16:71].
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And According to Hadees

 Sayyidina Abu Sa’eedKhudri  (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger ‘ said, “I will be the chief of the children of Aadam on the Day of Resurrection, no boast( not saying this with pride). In my hand will be the standard of praise and, no boast. There will be no Prophet on that day Aadam included-but will be under my banner. And, I will be the first for whom the earth will be split open-and, no boast.”
Jamia Tarmadi. vol 2. no 1580

Anas b. Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I would be the first among people to intercede in the Paradise and amongst the apostles I would have the largest following (on the Day of Resurrection).
Sahi Muslim, vol 1, no 483

Abu Huraira reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I have been given superiority over the other prophets in six respects: I have been given words which are concise but comprehensive in meaning; I have been helped by terror (in the hearts of enemies): spoils have been made lawful to me: the earth has been made for me clean and a place of worship; I have been sent to all mankind and the line of prophets is closed with me.
Sahi Muslim, vol 1, no 1162
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In His wisdom, He that Adam (peace be upon him) should be the father of mankind, and His wisdom, mercy and justice decreed that from among Adam’s progeny He should select an elite of Messengers and Prophets – may peace and blessings be upon them and upon our Prophet. Among those whom He chose and preferred over others were the Messengers of strong will [Uloo’l-‘Azm, see al-Ahqaaf 46:35], namely, Muhammad, Ibraaheem, Nooh, Moosa and ‘Eesaa ibn Maryam, may the best of blessings and peace be upon them. And He chose and favored above them all their leader, the final Messenger, our Prophet Muhammad ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He is indeed the leader of the sons of Adam, with no boast. He will carry the banner and will be granted the power of intercession [on the Day of Resurrection]. He is the one who will attain al-maqaam al-mahmood (the Praised Position) in Paradise, which will be given to one person only, and that person will be our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Hence Allah took the covenant and pledge from all the Prophets that if Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was sent during the lifetime of any one of them, they would be obliged to follow him (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), to leave behind what they had brought and follow what our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) brought.

As Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And (remember) when Allah took the Covenant of the Prophets, saying: ‘Take whatever I gave you from the Book and Hikmah (understanding of the Laws of Allah), and afterwards there will come to you a Messenger (Muhammad) confirming what is with you; you must, then, believe in him and help him.’ Allaah said: ‘Do you agree (to it) and will you take up My Covenant (which I conclude with you)?’ They said: ‘We agree.’ He said: ‘Then bear witness; and I am with you among the witnesses (for this).’ Then whoever turns away after this, they are the Faasiqoon (rebellious: those who turn away from Allah's obedience)” [Aal-Imraan 3:81-82]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him): “By Allah, if my brother Moosa were alive, he would have no  choice but to follow me.”

And when the Messiah ‘Eesaa ibn Maryam (peace be upon him) comes down at the end of time, he will come to rule in accordance with the sharee’ah (religious laws)of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and he will follow him (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

All of the above refers to their status before Allaah. With regard to their religion, it is one religion, for they all called people to believe in One God, Allah (Tawheed) and to devote worship sincerely to Him Alone. With regard to laws, each of them had his own law which was for his people alone.

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way” [al-Maa’idah 5:48]. But the way (sharee’ah) of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the most perfect, the best, the most complete and the most beloved to Allah; it abrogates all laws that came before it. Undoubtedly the Prophets differ in status, and they are at varying levels. The best of them, as stated above, are the five Messengers of strong will (Uloo’l-‘Azm), and the best of them all is the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

With regard to the saheeh ahaadeeth (authentic prophetic narrations), “Do not prefer me over Yoonus ibn Mattaa” and “By the One Who chose Moosa over all of creation” – these all indicate the immense humility of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when speaking of his brothers the Messengers. But he is undoubtedly the best of them all, for he led them in prayer in Bayt al-Maqdis (Jerusalem) on the night of the Israa’ (Night Journey). He will be the leader of the sons of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, and he is the only one among all the Messengers who will be granted the power of intercession on that Day. He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the one who said: “From among the sons of Adam, Allah chose Quraysh; from among Quraysh He chose Kinaanah; from among Kinaanah He chose Bani Haashim; and from among Bani Haashim He chose me.” He (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Chosen One (Muhammad(PBUH)) from among all of mankind.


And Allah knows best.

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