Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi/ New Delhi

Karen Armstrong, a Roman Catholic nun popularly known for her celebrated work on comparative religion, presents a fascinating portrait of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in her book: “Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time”.

She avers that the holy Prophet’s life and teachings are more relevant today than ever before, because “they offer crucial insight into the true origins of the misinterpreted and increasingly radicalised version of Islam”.

Countering those who wrongly attribute to the Prophet (pbuh) a fanatical, retrogressive, misogynist and violent strain of Islam, Ms. Armstrong offered a moderate portrait of the Prophet (pbuh). She describes him as a compassionate messenger who lived a wholly merciful life.

She also argues that although Islam has often been described in the West as an inherently intolerant ideology, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) epitomised his teachings of tolerance, forbearance, mercy, co-existence and compassion towards the adherents of other religions.

Every year, on the sacred birthday of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) which is celebrated as Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi in India and South Asia, Muslims need to particularly recall the brightest aspects of the Prophetic legacy-- mercifulness for all mankind, truthfulness and trustworthiness, generosity and gentleness especially for the weaker sections of society.

Among the noblest personality traits of Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) is ‘sociability’ or the quality of being sociable with the people such as neighbours, colleagues and people of other faith traditions who come in terms with us in daily life. It is patently clear from the holy Prophet’s teachings and traditions that the more sociable a Muslim is towards others, the more pious and virtuous are his faith and personal life.

In numerous hadiths, the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have described the attributes of being sociable, amiable, good-tempered and kind-hearted as the signs of a 'perfect believer' (Momin al-Kamil). He said in an authentic Hadith: "A true believer is someone who is ‘ma’laf’ (amiable, good-tempered and kind-hearted) and there is no good in someone who neither likes others nor is liked by them".

Significantly, the holy Prophet (pbuh) strongly prohibited separatism, exclusivism and even individualism. On the contrary to separatism, the holy Prophet promoted collectivism as a foundational principle inIslam. It is narrated by the Prophet’s Companion Hazrat Umar Ibn Al Khattab (r.a) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Beware of individualism, and always hold fast to the group [of people]. For Satan is nearer to the one, but is more distant from the two. And whosoever seeks the bliss of Paradise has to stick to the group” (Al-Tirmizi)

Similarly, on an another occasion, pointing to the same principle, the holy Prophet (pbuh) has repeatedly said: "A single traveller is accompanied with Satan and two travellers are accompanied with two Satans. But three travellers form a group [of people]." (At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud).

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In addition, the holy Prophet (pbuh) had great belief in altruism, a selfless concern for the well-being of others. His efforts to ameliorate the situations of the weaker sections of society were completely selfless and free from vested interests. He was a sincere and true well-wisher of all mankind regardless of faith, creed and race.

An irrefutable proof is that he prayed for the leader of the Munafiqeen (hypocrites) who are considered in Islam the worst people who will suffer the wrath of God in the hereafter.

The incident has been narrated by the Prophet’s companion Ibn e Abbas (r.a): “When Abdullah bin Ubai (the chief hypocrite) died, his son Abdullah came to the Prophet (pbuh) and asked him to give him his shirt in order to shroud his father in it. He gave it to him. Then Abdullah asked the Prophet (pbuh) to offer the funeral prayer for his father. The Prophet of Allah (pbuh) stood up to offer the funeral prayer for him. Umar (r.a) also stood up and got hold of the garment of the Prophet (pbuh) and said, "O Allah's Messenger! Will you offer the funeral prayer for him though your Lord has forbidden you to offer the prayer for him?"

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "But Allah has given me the choice by saying: “Whether you ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them; even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times....” (9:80) So I will ask more than seventy times." Umar (r.a) said, "But he (Abdullah bin Ubai) is a hypocrite!"

However, the Prophet (pbuh) did offer the funeral prayer for him.” (Sahih al-Bukhari) Conforming to the spirit of these universal values well embedded in the noble character of the holy Prophet (pbuh), Muslims today must give up exclusivity, separatism and individualism.

Those who peddle hatred towards people of other faith traditions or even non-faith traditions and those who unabashedly declare them or their own co-religionists as kafir should particularly pay heed to this.

The 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal is an opportune time for us to seriously reflect on these serious and sensitive issues in an effort to allay mistrust among Muslims and non-Muslims and help them develop a better understanding of Islam.

Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is an Indo-Islamic scholar and writer on Sufism. He may be reached at [email protected]