Muhammad, The World-Changer:

By; Mohamad Jebara

Page Number: 368

Originally published: 2021

"the life long attempt to achieve fullness"

The last prophet of Islam who received the holy verses of the Qur'an, the one who was described with great affection and blessings by Allah Azzawajal, a man with a high moral code and outstanding character who has inspired millions, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a role model who lived his every moment in the standards of his Deen (religion) and ethical values.

A great example of an individual with a complete sense of humbleness, courage, consideration, and intelligence, Prophet Muhammad's (PBUH) life is an inspirational message to all who aspire to reach their best potential.

In the book, Jebara eloquently goes through Muhammad's (PBUH) life, hitting on each significant event and philosophical idea that was the essence of his being. Jebara touches on many different core values that Muhammed (PBUH) held; considering that I am unable to state each of the countless virtuous characteristics that he lived upon, I will do my best to address a few.

- His (PBUH) constant kindness to all people:

Even before his prophecy, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was known to be a gentleman of kindness. Even in the face of ill-wishers, Muhammed (PBUH) did not act with anger or frustration. All his actions showed that he had jurisdiction over his negative emotions. He encouraged people to be thoughtful of their actions and words, especially when their emotions are heightened.

In the book, Jebara mentions a brief interaction that Muhammed (PBUH) had with an old lady. When Muhammed (PBUH) was traveling through the desert, he saw an old lady carrying heavy loads of water. Offering her his help, Muhammed (PBUH) carried her loads through the way till they reached their destination. In the meanwhile, the old lady started to talk about the rumors that she heard about this man named Muhammad who was dividing Mecca with his claims of the oneness of God, and he was causing an uprising among the enslaved and women in demand of equal treatment. Lady continued to denigrate Muhammad's name, without knowing who was carrying her loads. She advised him that as he is such a nice young man, he should stay away from Muhammad. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) listened to her talk for a long time, smiling, thanked her for her advice, and added "I am Muhammad". The Prophet (PBUH) taught us, by action, that when associating with anyone, regardless of their status or their perspective on yourself, one has to approach them with a set standard of kindness and consideration.

- His (PBUH) support of the oppressed and attention to human rights:

An inspirational leader, an equal rights advocate, and a considerate human who regards everyone's needs and wants, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was the justest person of all who came before and after him.

Two outstanding examples display his care for the subdued minorities. First, is his involvement with the economically restricted families in Mecca. During the jahiliyyah (age of ignorance), the elites of Mecca were tyrants who oppressed anyone who lacked wealth, strength, or fame. The city had separated into small groups of tribes, where each had a reputation on the social stage. Mecca was a place of constant ridicule and persecution for those without a strong tribe to back them up or individual resources to manage their needs. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), seeing all this chaos ensuing in the city, would sympathize with the hardships of the oppressed. He was not a man with only a passive form of deliberation, on the contrary, he was in a constant state of active efforts to make the situation better. Thus, Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) gathered together Ibnu Jud’an, Atiq (Abu Bakr), and Al-Fadhl to financially and emotionally support the poor and tribeless of Mecca. This institution was named "Hilf-ul Fudhul" (the pact to enhance society’s honor). To make the pact a public and legitimate one, Al-Fadhl spoke at the one and only Meccan council, Dar-Un Nadwa to represent their objectives.

Another instance that showed Muhammed's (PBUH) engaging with human rights and equality is after the hegira (migration) to Madina. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), along with a council, wrote Mithaq, a set of rules that worked as the constitution of Madina. Considering that there were minority groups of different faiths in the region, the rules did not just apply to Muslims but encompassed the whole of the population. The rules, in their simplest format, were;

1. One union out of many diverse groups and individuals

2. All groups maintain their unique identity, preserving best practices while disregarding unjust traditions

3. All people possess equal rights, with no single group superior to others

4. All enslaved have equal rights to dignity opportunity

5. In the face of external aggression, all groups must unite as “one hand” o protect one another

6. The agreement annual any preexisting commitments, including loans and debts,

7. As acts of treachery will be the responsibility of the individual, not their clan

8. All people in Madina have the right not to join the union and will not be penalized as long as they stay neutral

9. Justice is granted to all, including women, children, and the enslaved

10. All groups are to contribute financially to the overall good of the unions

The regulations essentially claim the union of the tribes in the city under one federal ruling, while allowing each to live by their values and traditions long as they do not disrupt the public in any form. While giving a sense of liberty to individuals, this ruling style also allowed for a sense of unity and community. It held a balance of the two concepts which caused the city to blossom in every aspect, from societal to economic, and portrayed the fairness and tolerance of Islam and its Prophet (PBUH).

When one analyzes the events of Hilf-ul Fudhul and the Mithaq, it becomes inevitable to conclude that Muhammed (PBUH) respected all people, stood up for the rights of those who were abused, resisted every level of injustice in the most diplomatic manner, and exhibited an administration that was years ahead of his time.

- His (PBUH) humble nature:

Often humans go to great lengths to sustain a type of reputation in society to protect their egos. A person whose objective is to constantly cater to their ego is a servant of their self-esteem. A person who has mastered their ego, who has accomplished the true meaning of jihad, is the one who is candidly free to do what is right, not what is the most fitted in the eyes of society.

Muhammed (PBUH) was an excellent example of an individual who lived in complete modesty and humility. His concern was not a luxurious lifestyle, fame, or distinction; his concern was everyone's Dunya (this world) and Akhirah (hereafter). Thus, any attempt from the opposition to try to ridicule his figure did not get to him, as he had submitted himself to the all-powerful Creator, who did not judge him based on people's perceptions but judged him based on his character.

In the book, Jebara mentions the incident right before the signing of the Hudaibia Treaty. The opposing side, Meccans who tyrannized Muslims for their beliefs, demanded that Prophet Muhammed's (PBUH) name not be on the agreement as a way to undermine his importance. While the supporters of Muhammad (PBUH), in any way, did not find this possible, he had a notable answer "It is always nobler to compromise one's honor in the pursuit of peace".

- His (PBUH) excellency in diplomacy:

Throughout the book, readers will be able to observe that Muhammad (PBUH) was a genius in diplomacy and peace-making. In his nature, Muhammad (PBUH) was a man who was considerate of all aspects of a quarrel. He listened attentively to all sides, made sure to let the speaker know that he was all ears of what was being said, objectively took the information, regarded the particulars of an issue, and applied the fairest resolution. There can be multiple examples found in Jebara's book of how he used his diplomatic side in moments of chaos to minimize confusion and dispute. One of those instances is when, before his prophecy was revealed, the disagreement between the tribes of Mecca came out when deciding who should be the one to put the Blackstone in its place on the Kabah. The argument got heated and started turning violent, Muhammed, calming down the public, solved the issue by finding a cloth to put the stone in and allowing a representative from each tribe to hold the cloth, thus further conflict was prevented.

As a Muslim, the importance of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) puts a weight of responsibility on my shoulders to learn more about his life, his demeanor, and his being. Thus, for helping me understand him in greater detail, I appreciate the accurate representation of him by English-speaking authors, like this book.

For a chronologically ordered list of events that take place in this book, click on the link:

Notes on _Muhammed- The world changer_ _.

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