Muslims celebrate Prophet Muhammad's birthday:

Prophet - a blessed gift to mankind

by Mohammed NAALIR

Prophet Muhammad (Sal) was born in Mecca in the Arabian peninsula nearly 1500 years ago as a blessed gift to mankind at a time when vices and cruelty were deeply rooted in that society. There was no room for humanitarian activities in that barbaric society.

The emergence of Prophet Muhammad caused a huge renovation in that society prevalent with cruelty and vices. Prophet Muhammad converted the desert into a beautiful garden with fragrant flowers.

After he became Prophet Muhammad (Sal) the women and female children got similar status equal to the male. Prophet Muhammad (Sal) laid a strong foundation for a well-mannered society as well as implemented them perfectly.

When Prophet Muhammad (Sal) turned forty he was designated a prophet by Allah via the leader of the Messenger Gabriel. From the prophecy, Allah revealed the Al-Quran from time to time according to the necessity for twenty-three years. The Quran was not revealed at once according to the situation Allah revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Sal) as small versions and chapters.

No prophet was sent to the world by Allah between the era of Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad (Sal) to guide mankind. According to the Al-Quran the gap is 500 years. The people of this era were fighting with each other fatally. They slayed one another without any mercy or simple reasons. Five hundred years after Jesus Christ Prophet Muhammad (Sal) was sent to the world as the final messenger of Allah. According to the Al-Quran no prophet will emerge in the world after Prophet Muhammad (Sal). The era between Jesus Christ and Prophet Muhammad (Sal) is called `the era of' Fithna (confusion).

Aiyamul Jahiliya

By the time Prophet Muhammad (Sal) was born in the Arabian peninsula barbarism was more prevalent than humanitarianism. There was no harmonious relationship between the people. They lived according to the dictates of their mind. There was hardly any relationship between parents and children. Wives, relatives, children, brothers and sisters and neighbours did not enjoy those relations. They spent their lives without any aim. They gave prominence to liquor and vice which led towards destruction. The people in Aiyamul Jahiliya (era of darkness) venerated idols, sans any religion. The era before the emergence of Prophet Muhammad (Sal) is called "Aiyamul Jahiliya" which means the era of darkness. They were intellectually blind. They were not aware of religion. This is the prime cause for this word to be used for the then Arabians. Even though they were genius in architecture and composing poems they had strayed from the correct path.

Compared to the male, the woman had no rights during the Aiyamul Jahiliya era. All fundamental rights of the women had been violated. The birth of baby girls were considered as a shame to the family and society. If it was a male baby they celebrated it as a big festival. According to them the birth of a male child will protect their generation. Until the era of Prophet Muhammad (Sal) female children were considered a misery of the family. They thought female children could do nothing for them. They used to bury the female children alive without any mercy. If they suspected it may be a female child they cut the abdomen of the mother.

The then Arabians buried the female children while alive barbarically. This was the usual practice before the emergence of Prophet Muhammad (Sal).

Did not live amicably

For simple reasons they launched war with other tribes. Even-though they were neighbours they did not live amicably. According to history they waged war against other tribes for hundreds of years to show their family pride and revenge for a prior incident. Wars took place on the basis of family and on the basis of tribes. The crude mentality of those people were protected and was passed on to next generation. One who was defeated by another tribe would direct his son to revenge that tribe. This was the usual practice in that era. The mentality of the community continued from generation to generation.

Prophet Muhammad's family was the only family which lived within a well-mannered way without becoming addicted to bad habits. That was the prime reason Prophet Muhammad's family was selected for the birth of a Holy prophet. Before the emergence of Prophet Muhammad (Sal), Allah protected Prophet Muhammad's family for 21 generations from idolatry.

Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sal) was born as the son of Abdullah. He lost his father even before his birth and lost mother Amina during childhood. At the age of eight Prophet Muhammad (Sal) lost his grandfather who tended him. After his demise the Prophets uncle Aboothalib looked after Prophet Muhammad (Sal).

During the Islamic propaganda Prophet Muhammad (Sal) faced several obstacles caused by the then Aiyamul Jahiliya era citizens. He was subjected to untold torture and trials.

There was a custom among the Arabians to give another woman to give breast milk to the child. Prophet Muhammad (Sal) was given to Mother Haleemathul Sahdiya, a weak woman. She was in poor health to breast-feed Muhammad. By the grace of the Almighty, no sooner she mothered the child Muhammad she became a healthy woman and the camel she came on also became strong. The new authors also described this as a miracle which occurred that after the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Sal).

Allah had given five special privileges to Prophet Muhammad (Sal) which were not given to earlier prophets. The first privilege was that he could consume the Ganeemath things (left by the enemies during the war), Appearing for Ummahs for their release from the hell at the Mahshar ground after the death, prayers can be conducted in any place of the world if it is a clean place, Prophet Muhammad (Sal) was the only prophet sent to the entire world and he was the final one in the succession of the prophets as the gift to mankind.

Show correct path

Prophet Muhammad (Sal) was sent to the world as a messenger of Allah to show the correct path to the then intellectually blind society. By showing the correct path to a blind person Prophet Muhammad has shown the correct and proper way to us. He introduced Allah to all. He preached that saying Lailaha illallahu Muhammadurrasoolullah. Then you will triumph in this world and the life after the death.

The Arabians condemned Prophet Muhammad (Sal) in various ways to stop his islamic propaganda. They taunted prophet Muhammad (Sal). Despite their criticism Prophet Muhammad did not stop preaching Islam. The Prophet invited all to accept Islam saying that Kalimah which is the oath of accepting the Almighty and Prophet Muhammad as the messenger of Allah.

Despite the problems and attacks Prophet Muhammad (Sal) approached the people and preached about Allah and Islam in a non violent way.

When Prophet Muhammad (Sal) invited the people towards Islam Abujahl carried out anti-propaganda against Prophet saying don't believe him, he is lying the Prophet was calling Jannah (Heaven) but Abujahl was calling the people towards the abyss. Amidst such difficulties Prophet carried out the Dhawa campaign. At the very outset thirtynine persons accepted Islam saying the Kalima that Allah is our God and Prophet Muhammad (Sal) as the messenger of Allah.

Aboobakkar (Rali) was the first male who accepted Islam and Mother Kadeeja was the first woman who embraced Islam. Ali ibnu Abuthalib was the first child who accepted Islam.

While Prophet Muhammad (Sal) was engaged in introducing Allah to the people those who did not accept Islam decided to kill the Prophet in his home. They made arrangements to kill the prophet. Prophet Muhammad (Sal) on the directive of Allah and considered Madina as a suitable place to carry out Islamic propaganda. He went on Hijrath to Medina and Aboobakkar (a friend of Prophet Muhammad (Sal) accompanied him. Later the people in Mekka also embraced Islam realising this fact.

The entire Arabian peninsula was brought under one umbrella of Islam which is the only means to go to heaven.

He stressed the value of Allah on their minds. Prophet Muhammad said "I have left two things Al-Quran and Al-Hadees (the preaching, activities and recognition of Prophet Muhammad (Sal) with you as long as you follow it you will not be misled".