a way of life a way of life a way of
life a way of life Islam is a way of
life a complete
way do you know what Islam says it says
that life's the
greatest greetings and peace this is Dr
Lawrence Brown we now enter the phase
where we will discuss the prophethood of
Muhammad Sall alai wasam in the Old
Testament the Old Testament foretold the
coming of three prophets we understand
the first two of those to be John the
Baptist and Jesus Christ leaving one
unfulfilled prophecy at the same time
when we read the New Testament we find
Jesus Christ foretelling one final
Prophet to to follow at the conclusion
of his ministry and so again the
evidence for the for telling of the
final Prophet is not an Islamic evidence
is not just an Islamic evidence it is
also to be found in the scriptures of
the old and the New
Testaments so to begin with I will give
an introduction to Muhammad Sall alai
wasam we will move on to two more
episodes where we will will discuss the
evidences for his prophethood for this
is the Crux of the matter can we
validate the man Muhammad peace be upon
him as a prophet or not that will depend
upon the evidence so to begin with
Muhammad iban Abdullah was born to the
powerful tribe of the Kesh in Mecca in
or around the year
570 CE his father died before he was
born his mother died when he was 6 years
old and he was raised by a BN family who
taught him Caravan trading and sheep
hurting he was known for certain
qualities even from childhood he was
known for ethics and honesty gentleness
fairness a very sober nature he was
known for having a deep contemplative
spirituality which only deepened and
became more obvious as he matured by the
age of 40 he had secured a very
comfortable life for himself he was
married to Khadijah a well-known and
Wealthy
businesswoman he had become himself
wealthy successful in society a member
of the
powerful tribes in The
KES he had children well wealth high
social standing yet it was at this point
that he started receiving
Revelation and despite the wealth the
high social standing the good position
in which he lived he basically went on
to compromise everything that he had in
a worldly sense to Bear the message of
Revelation he passed from this life in
632 CE
now it would be easy for me to project
my opinion of the man Muhammad peace be
upon him but what I would like to do
over the next few minutes is read the
opinions of others historians religious
analysts
orientalists and give you a flavor for
their appreciation of Muhammad peace be
upon him as I read these understand that
these are not the opinions of Muslims
these are the opinions of non-muslims in
most cases in those cases where it is
the opinion of a Muslim I will identify
it but let us begin with Alexander Ross
no friend of the Islamic religion
Alexander Ross was a
declared
anti-islamic man and yet
nonetheless this is what he had to say
quote speaking of Muhammad quote he did
not pretend to deliver any new religion
to them but to revive the old one which
God gave first to Adam and when lost in
the corruption of the old world restored
It Again by Revelation to Abraham who
taught it his son Ishmael their ancestor
and then he when he settled first in
Arabia instructed men in the same but
there posterity degenerating into
idolatry God sent him now to destroy it
and restore the religion of Ishmael he
allowed both of the Old and New
Testament and that Moses and Christ were
prophets sent from God keep in mind that
this is what we discussed in much of the
previous series of these episodes quote
he allowed both of the Old and New
Testament and that Moses and Christ were
prophets sent from God but that the Jews
and Christians had corrupted these holy
writings and that he was sent to purge
them from those Corruptions and to
restore the law of God to that Purity in
which it was first delivered and is this
not what we have already discussed the
fact that
Islam understands the previous prophets
as just that men as prophets including
Abraham Moses and Jesus Christ
but that at the same time Islam
understands the word of God to be
represented in the Old and New
Testaments but that there is corruption
to the Old and New Testaments as well
hence the need for a final clarifying
Revelation conveyed by the final
predicted Prophet as encountered in the
Old and New Testaments now a somewhat
longer description but very worthwhile
simply because in reading this I feel
myself I could not say it any better
this was written over 200 years ago by
Stanley lane pool in a time when it was
dangerous not just difficult but
actually dangerous for a man to express
a positive opinion of Islam in England
to express a positive opinion of Islam
200 years ago was to put your life on
the line and yet this is what Stanley
Lane poool wrote quote Muhammad was of
middle height rather thin but broad of
shoulders wide of chest strong of bone
and muscle his head was massive strongly
developed dark hair slightly curled
flowed in a dense Mass almost to his
shoulders even in advanced age it was
sprinkled with only about 20 gray hairs
produced by the agony of his
Revelations his face was oval-shaped
slightly Tawny of color fine long arched
eyebrows were divided by a
vein which throbbed visibly in moments
of passion great black Restless eyes
Shone out from under long heavy
eyelashes his nose was large slightly
aqualine his teeth upon which he
bestowed great care were well set
dazzling white a full beard framed his
manly face his skin was was clear and
soft his complexion red and white his
hands were as silk and satin even as
those of a woman his step was quick and
elastic yet firm as that of one who
steps from a high to a low place in
turning his face he would also turn his
whole body his whole gate and presence
was dignified and
imposing his countenance was mild and
pensive his laugh was rarely more than a
smile Stanley lane pool goes from a
description of Muhammad sallallah Al
wasam to his habits quote in his habits
he was extremely simple though he
bestowed great care on his person his
eating and drinking his dress and his
furniture
retained even when he had reached the
fullness of power their almost primitive
nature nature the only luxuries he
indulged in were besides arms which he
highly prized a pair of yellow boots a
present from the neas of abisinia
perfumes however he loved passionately
being most sensitive to
Smells strong drink he
abored he was gifted with Mighty powers
of
imagination elevation of mind delicacy
and refinement of feeling he is more
modest than a virgin behind her curtain
it was said of him he was most indulgent
to his inferiors and would never allow
his awkward little page to be scolded
whatever he did 10 years said anas his
servant was I about the prophet and he
never said as much as o to me he was
very affectionate towards his family one
of his boys boys died on his breast in
the Smoky House of the nurse a
blacksmith's wife he was very fond of
children he would stop them in the
streets and pat their heads he never
struck anyone in his life the worst
expression he ever made use of in
conversation was what has come to him
may his forehead be darkened with mud
when asked to curse someone he replied I
have not been sent to curse but to be a
Mercy to
Mankind he visited the sick followed any
funeral bear he met accepted the
invitation of a slave to dinner mended
his own clothes milked the goats and
waited upon himself related summarily
another
tradition he goes on he never first
withheld his hand out of another man's
palm and turned not before before the
other had turned he was the most
faithful protector of those he protected
the sweetest and most agreeable in
conversation those who saw him were
immediately suddenly filled with
reverence those who came near him loved
him those who described him would say I
have never seen his like either before
or after he was of great
taciturnity but when he spoke it was
with emphasis and
deliberation and no one could ever
forget what he said after that beautiful
description it's time to take a quick
break please stay with us we'll be right
back is a way of life a complete welcome
back this is Dr Lawrence Brown and we
are continuing this episode painting a
word profile of the Prophet Muhammad
peace be upon him I will continue with
another another opinion not from one of
his friends but from one of his enemies
George S one of the early translators of
the Holy Quran hated Islam and hated the
man Muhammad and yet this is what he had
to say about him quote for however
criminal Muhammad may have been in
imposing a false religion on mankind now
is there any doubt that this man hates
Muhammad and Islam we learn the vehement
of his hatred from his words and yet see
how he
continues the praises to his real
virtues ought not to be denied him nor
can I do otherwise than applaud the
cander of the pious and learned span
hemus who though he owned him to have
been a wicked
impostor now these are his enemies the
worst of his enemies and yet they say
yet acknowledged him to have been richly
furnished with natural
endowments beautiful in his person of a
subtle wit agreeable Behavior showing
liberality to the poor courtesy to
everyone fortitude against his enemies
and above all a high reverence for the
name of God severe against the perjured
adulterers murderers fland ERS Covetous
false Witnesses Etc a great preacher of
patience charity Mercy beneficence
gratitude honoring of parents and
superiors and a frequent celebrator of
the Divine praises and de are the words
of his enemy so we see in this a true
picture of Muhammad sallallah alai wasam
in that if you're enemies speak well of
you how can there be any bad to you in a
Hadith in which Ali IB ABI Talib the
cousin of the Prophet sallallah alai
wasam gave a description that is well
respected quote he was not vulgar nor
did he condone
vulgarity and he was not one to shout in
the marketplace he did not reward evil
with evil rather he would forgive and
overl look he never in his life struck
anything with his hand except when he
was fighting in the name of Allah he
never struck a servant nor a woman and I
never saw him take revenge for an
injustice dealt him except if the
prohibitions of Allah were
transgressed for if the prohibitions of
Allah were transgressed he was among the
strongest of them in Anger he was never
given a choice between two matters but
he chose the simplest of the two if he
entered into his home he was a man like
any other cleaning his own garment
milking his own goat and serving himself
he was continually smiling gentle in
manners soft in nature he was not severe
hard-hearted loud abusive or miserly he
would disregard that which he disliked
and no one ever despaired of him he
never responded to despar judgment or
evil words he forbade himself three
things argument arrogance and that which
did not concern him and he relieved the
people of three he would not degrade any
among them or abuse them he would not
search after their honor or private
matters and he would not speak except in
matters which he hoped to be rewarded
for when he spoke his attendees would
lower their heads as if Birds had
delighted upon them once he finished
they would speak they would not viy with
one another in his presence to speak but
when one would talk in his presence the
rest would listen until he finished
speech in his presence was that of the
first among them he would laugh with
them and wonder with them he had
patience with the strangers when they
were Gruff in speech and requests to a
degree that his companions would fetch
them to him he would say if you see
someone in need fetch him to me he would
not accept praise except from those who
were balanced and not excessive he would
not interject into someone's speech
unless they transgressed in which case
he would either rebuke them or else
leave in another Hadith related by
bukari and Muslim quote he was the most
generous of heart truthful of tongue
softest indisposition position and Noble
in
relationship the English archaeologist
and Scholar DG Hogarth wrote as follows
serious or trivial serious or trivial
his daily Behavior has instituted a
cannon which Millions observe at this
day with conscious mimicry no one
regarded by any section of the human
race as perfect man has been imitated so
minutely
the conduct of the founder of
Christianity has not so governed the
ordinary life of his followers moreover
no founder of a religion has been left
on so solitary an Eminence as the Muslim
Apostle and this is exactly in
accordance with what we described
earlier in one of my talks in which I
described how we find the example of
Jesus peace be upon him his example
better exemplified in the appearance the
manners the practices of worship and the
Creed among the practices of the Muslims
than among the practices of those who
consider themselves Christian and yet in
both cases it is the example of Muhammad
s. wasam that is most closely
exemplified most closely emulated among
his followers his character was well
documented by Washington Irving quote he
was sober and abstemious in his diet and
a rigorous Observer of fasts he indulged
in no magnificence of apparel the
ostentation of a petty mind neither was
his Simplicity in dress affected but the
result of a real disregard to
distinction from so trivial a source his
military triumphs awakened no pride no
vain Glory as they would have done had
they been affected for selfish purposes
in the time of his greatest power he
maintained the same Simplicity of
manners and appearance as in the days of
his adversity so far from affecting
Regal State he was displeased if upon
entering a room any unusual testimony of
respect were shown him if he aimed at
Universal Dominion it was the Dominion
of the faith as to the temporal rule
which grew up in his hands as he used it
without ostentation so he took no step
to perpetuate it in his family the
riches which poured in upon him from
tribute and The Spoils of War were
expended in promoting the victories of
the faith and in relieving the poor
among its voies in so much that his
treasury was often drained of its last
coin what is he saying he is saying all
the wealth that came from the position
of his office he distributed to the poor
and needy and others who would benefit
Omar IB Al Hari declares that Muhammad
at his death did not leave a golden
dinar nor a silver Durham a slave nor a
slave girl nor anything but his gray
mule his arms and the ground which he
bestowed upon his wives his
children and the poor Allah says the
Arabian writer offered him the keys of
all the Treasures of the Earth but he
refused to accept
them and so we find in this the example
of a very human messenger described both
by his friends
Companions and allies but also by his
enemies the point being that his
attributes were undeniable for now I
will close this segment with description
from hind quote the messenger of Allah
was of consecutive Sorrows continuous
thought never finding rest long in
silence he did not speak without cause
he spoke with his full mouth in other
words was not arrogant and spoke
concisely his speech was just with
neither excess nor deficiency he was not
pompous nor
denigrating he exalted all blessings no
matter how small and never belittled a
single one and with that I would like to
conclude this section and we will plan
to continue inshallah with the
discussion of the evidences for the
prophethood of Muhammad s. wasam until
next time this is Dr Lawrence Brown
biding you peace and looking forward to
the next
episode do you know what Islam is