Muhammad the Prophet by Maulana Muhammad Ali

226 Pages·2007·21.01 MB·English

by  Maulana Muhammad Ali

MUHAMMAD
THE PROPHET

ty

MAULANA MUHAMMAD ‘ALT

“THR AHMADIYYA ANTUMAN ISHA'AT ISLAM
LATIORE 18.8,

www.aaiil.org
COPYRIGHT: 1903 _,
ATIMADIVYA ANIUMAN ISHS’ AT ISLAM LAHORE
TSA INC.

S15 Kingsgule Ron

Columbus Ohiy USA 43221
FIRS EDITION os
SECOND EDIFION 1933
THIRD EDIION 1951
FOUKTH EDITION (Revise) |. 1972
FIFTH EDITION el
SIXEH EDITION oR
SEVENTH EDITION 1993

ISBN: 0.913521-07-9

‘Tyneseuing Uo & LT ype
‘Vaneauver: Buc
Canada

Printers Payette and Sitoras
RY Acca Si
SIL Lambert, PQ:
Canada
PREFACE

‘The idea of viiting an exhaumtse tife history of the Holy
‘Founder of Iskim has ever bee present in my raind singe 1
(ook up the work of eansTating the Holy Qui'dn into Frnglish
about fifteen years ayo but, owing to various other
‘engagements, | as wot uble to give it a practical shape, The
shonl sketch that is now being presented is hy no means a
fulfitment of that idea. Tis bur a very brief und hurried
avcount of a Tife which is Full of the noblest tessons for
humanity, a mete bird's-eye view of the preates uunsfermation
‘which has boos ¥eougtit in the history of man Tale not know
‘fT sal live long enough to aterapt the mune Iyborions work
of presenting Ibat ennobling story in all ils details; for the
Dreseat [ offer this humble tribute to dhe memory of his whe
Alevoted his whole Tif to the scaviee of humanity,

believe, as every Muslim dacs, that every nition had its
supenman, te Tuninary who gave ic light, Ihe reformer who
inspired it with hte ideas, dhe Prophet wh raised it morally
‘Bun Muhammad, may peace and the blessings of God be upon
him, 1s par excellence THE PROPHET, hecanwe be is the
Prophet not of one nation hot ofall the nations of the world,
because it was he wha declarod belief in ull the prophots of
Uhe would as an eens of th fuch he preached anc! thus lid
down the basis of » lusting peace among different nations,
bocause "he is the greatest of all reformers.” having brought
about a transforraution poparaleled either before ar after hit
and, lastly, because “he ig the most successful of all the
prophets and seligious personalities"! Every nun ought 10
be judged by what hy docs, and the Holy Prophet Mubammad
accomplished within twenty years what centuries of the
labours of Jewish und Christian reformers could not
accomplish, notwithstanding the tsumporal power al their back,
He swept away centuries-old idolatry, superstitim, credul
jpnorance. prostitution, gambling, drinking. appressiom af the
‘weak, Iternecine war and a hunclred ether evils from # whole

peeve Sata
i MURAMMAD IME TROPHET

eouaury, History cannot shaw any other reformer whe
swrnught s0 wonderful and complete a transformation on 3
large a scale within co short # time. "Never was reform more
hopeless than at the adwent of the Prophet.” as Muir hs
remarked, “and never was it more complete than when he
departed.” In the words of Carlyle, “it was a birth from
Sarkness into Tight.” A life so great cannot be devoid of
yolonfalies as great for ebe fue; it cara but Inspire nna
any heart the nabs ideas of the service of mursanity 4€ there
is any one tealt of his character which is more mated thin
tues, cis is care of the orphan. an uke widow. his support
bt the weak and the holpiss, his love of Tabour and work far
the distresped. I is the life of a mi scha lived for God and
‘wha dietl Tor God. "If ever man on this ese found God, if
ver man devated his life 1o God's servive wilh a good and
seul muslive, itis vertain that the Prophet of Arabia was thar

J.” (eon

‘The original wark was weittea by me in Uru, and the
English rendering now being proscated ¢o the public is the
result af the Tubéur of love of Maulst Mubarmmad Ya'gub
Kin, Trim of the Masque at Woking who did this wort io
dition lo bis duties as a Muslim preacher at Woking. My
Scerest thanks are due to bie, as well as ¥o Khwajuh Kamal
aL-Din, head of the Woking Muslim Mission, whe alfarded
every facility 10 M, Mulamninad Yarqib Khan for completing,
Dis cask. And I place the manuscript in the hanes of Maulana
Sadrud-Din, who is now propagating Jaki in Germany. us T
Al inthe case of the English Translation of the Holy
Tor supervising the work ibmouh uve press and for its rovisem
sad he earroetion of prot

Ahediyyah Buildings,
Lahore
August 25, 1923 ‘Movgammad ‘ATE
PREFACE TO THE REVISED LBUTION vil

Every mun poght to be judged by what he dies, anil
Mulammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upam him)
accomplished within twenty years whal centuries of the
uhours of other reformers could wot accomplish,
olwithstanding the temporal puwer ul thei back, He swept
away cemturios-old idolatry. superstition, credulity, ignorance,
prostitotion, gamblits, drieking, appression of the weak,
imiemecine ‘war and 2 buadred otter evily from a whole
‘country. History cannot show any other rofermer who srought
so wonderful and complese a transformation on so large a
scale within so short a tine. Never was reform more hapotess
than at une advent of Muharwmud (peace and blessings of
Allah hee upon him) and never was it mors complere than
‘when he departed

“TT greatness of purpore, smallness of means, and astound
resulls are the three criteria-of human genius ~ wiles the
distinguished French writer Alphonse de Lamattine In bis
Histoire de ka Tunquo (1854) - sho could dare to compare any
great man in modern bislory with Mujanumad?” The most
Famous men created arms, taws and empires only. They
Founded. if anything af all, no morc then material posvers
which often crumbled away before thelr eyes. This man
moved not only armies, legislations. empires, peaples url
dynasties. but millicaw of mon in oue thitd of the then
‘inhabited world, und more than that, lie moved ullars, gods,
religions, ideas, beliefs und souls. On the basis of w Rowk,
every letter of which hax hecome law. be created i spiiigal
mationality which blended together peoples al every longue
and of every race. He has left us. as the indelible characteristic
of this Mustin wutionality, the hated of false gous und the
passion lor the One and Iuvasterial God. This avenging
Pateiotism against the profanation of Heaven larmed the
virtue of the Tullowers of Mubammad: the conquest of one-
third of the eaeih 10 his dogma was his rvirace; or rauher it
‘vas not the miraule of a mnan but that of reuson. The ide of
‘he unity of Gor, proclaimed amidse the exhaustion of Febulons,
vii MUHAMMAD THE PROPHET

theogonies, was in itsel such u miracle una upsm ily uierance
frorn his Bigs it desivoye all the ancient teraples fides und
selon fire one-third of the world, Fis life, his meditations, is
Ihervie reviings agains! fhe superslitions wf his couniy, und
hig illness in defying the furies of idolary, his firmness in
‘enduring them. far fiftcen years at Mocca, his aeceptamce of
the role of publ aca gndl amo of heing a victim af is
fellow cauntry-men: all thexe und, finally, bin Tight, his
weessanl preaching, his wars against ols, hie faith in bis
success and his superhuman serenity in misforuine, his
forbearance in vielory, his ambition, which was entirely
dlgvoet 1p one ide anu in nd maanner Siriving for an ompire:
his endless prayers, his mystic conversations vith God. his
death and his Giumph after death: all those attest not fo am.
‘posture but 1p a firm conviction which gave him the power
tw restore wilygma. Thi dogma was Iwata, the unity of Gost
and the immaterality of Gaal; the former telling what God i
the latter telling what Gad is nots the ame overinrossing False
‘pods with the sword, he other suring an ie with the wards,
‘Philosopher, pralor, apostle, legiluter; varrar, conqueror
( ideay, vestrer of rational dagen, of # cull sithou images;
the founder of twenty temesirial empires anal af «me spin
crapiee, hal ix Mularaanad. As regards al starlars by which
Tunaan greatmess nay be measure, we may well ask; Ts Uhere
any mn greater thm he?"

‘Alife So preal cummat he devoid of potentialities as grea for
the lure. Tg the fe of a mn whe lived for Gua el dil
for Cad. 1 ean ut inspire: is amy hen the: mabe eles
‘of The service of humanity

Tia te present revived eto. bests some rinor ateration,
some chupiers have been coembineilnder one heating,

Murnias Abenuad Ferg
CONTENTS

Profi: ’
Preface wo the revised elition avi
1-THE DARK AGF 1

‘The Arabian Peninsula - Teg and Syria - Hijz -
‘Yaman - Najd ~ “Conn - Eije~ Minka and Rash ~
Madinah - Arabian races - Ishmael and his progeny ~
Time of ignorance - Christianity in dcexcpit state -
Arab poetry -"The Arab charactor - Uhe Arab idolatry -
Religion a mockery - Social fife - No law and order ~
Position of Women - Standing evils - Earticr prophets
+ Fevish settoment - Christians - Unitaians ~ Failures
~ Arabia impervious to efor.

UL 'THE PROMISED PROPHET 3

Abraham's prophecies - Moses’ prophesies - liah's
prophecies - Jesus” prophecies - The Holy Prophet's
‘genealogy - Abrahah’s atack on Makkah Before the
Call - Alliance of protection of the weak - Mamiage
with Khadijah - Charming morals - Magactic
persouatity

AU "THE DIVINE CALL 40
Firat revelation - Temporary cessation of revelation ~
Second revelation - The Barly converts - Other
important converts Religious humanities Revelation
‘wasnt a voice from within

IV-THE STORMY OPPOSITION at

Slave converts tomured - Fist emigration to Abyssinia
+The Sccond Emigration - Alleged compremise with
x CONTENTS

Molutory - Peblic proushing -Pirat deputation ua ABT
Tali - Second deputation - The Prophet strong stand
- Third deputation - Quraish offer leadership end
‘wealth - Ban against the Hashimites - Death of Abt:

Talib and Schadijah - Joumcy to TH'if - Pledges of
Aqabab,
- THE FLIGHT TO MADINAH Pal

Council ofthe Quraish - Inthe Cave of Thaur- Leaving
for Madinah - Pursued by Suraqah - Consoting
revelation - The New Era - Muslim Brothcrhuo! - 8
pact between various tribes.

VI THE DEFENSIVE BAITLES 3

‘The Batde of Badr Prceantionary measures ~ Pets
with neighbouring wibes - Quraish attack Madinah
‘The Prophet praving in the batlefild - Divine help for
Muslint cause - Trearment of prisoners of war
Fulfilment of Divine promise ‘The Battle of Ubud
‘The Holy Prophet holds a war council - Mnslimt Arary
Jed 0 Ud Quraish defeared and pursed - Khalid's
attack fro the tear - The Holy Proper’ bold action
Muslira rally - Queaist atrocities - Ubud was uot a
defeat [or Muslims - Insecurity of Muslims ~
Butchering of inaocent Muslim preachers - The
Prophet forbidden 10 pray against tyrants - Smaller
engagements - Slander against "A "ishah - ‘The Bavtle
‘af Alzab - The Prophet sees Vision of a great fanare
Muslim sufferings in seige - Confederates souted
Relations wilh dhe Jews Theie punishment - Conquest
of Khaihae - Jewish plot against the ely Prophet
“The Prophets Tenient dealing - Marriage with Safiya,

Vil-THE TRUCE OF (UDAIBIYAU. n6

slim spread in spite af the sword - The Holy Prog
sets oul on pilgrimage - Failure of negotiation
cONTENES si

Bal'at -Rigwiin - Teams of the Truce - Truce brings
About Iriuraph of Islim - Divine Promise fulfilled
Prophet's lve of peace Sad plight ol Vakkan converts
= Message a Tslim carried beyout Arabia - Caesar's
atcinde towards Islam - Choses anders Prophet's
anrest ~ Negus aceepts Islan - Prophet's deep-icoted
onietinn = The sal

VL - TIE CONQUESY UF MAKKATE BI

‘Quraish contravoned teem of Truce - Preparations, for
atluck on Makkalt - Tew thousand holy sen = Abii
Sufyin accepts Isla - General amnesty Unparalleled
amagumimity- Makkses erabrace Talim - The Baale of
‘luna ~ Retreat and tally pf Muslim forces - Spread
of Isle in Arabia Deputations from Arab teibes ~
Expedition of Tabitk- Impering eluagor onthe Syrian
Seontier - Muslim army at Takk - The irypocries in
Madinah ~ Hypocrites" plans against Lslim - The
Prophe’s lave for enemies - Fadl af the Bypoctices ~
‘Year of deputations - The Najrin deputation - Whole
nf Arabia converted - fslimie principles of war ~
Compulsion in retigiou intenticied - Fighting alowed
‘eonditionally - Peare tw be proferred - Relations with
non-Muslims - Flow apostles sere cal With

IX-TIIE FAREWELL PILGRIMAGE 160

Prophet's last pilorimaye - Serman a Min - The Thaly
Prophet's Last ness = Abo Bakr appointed Imam ~
‘The Holy Prophet's Deming - Abt Makt"s seer.

XC THE PROPHET'S SURFIME MORALS 67

‘The Prophet, un exemplar - No warle was ton Tow for
fim Simplivity - Food - Dress « No atlruction for
comforts - Cleanliness - Lave for friends - Genernux
to enernies - Paul justice forall Huiligy - Sympathy
for the poor and the diswessed - Lospitulily ~
coNTENS ai

Gentleness ~ Faithfulness - Forgiveness - Modesty ~
Affection - Respect for others - Courage -
Stoullasiness.

‘XL-YHE PROPHETS DISTINCHVE
CHARACTERISTICS AS A REFORMER 19

The mont successful of prophets - Universality of the
menage - Unity of oman tace - Development of
entire human magne - Grosmese in alt directions - Not
‘product of environnacnt - Universal peace.

XiL- THE PROPITET’S MARRIAGES 188

Kiwijuh -“A'ihah’s age - Sauduh - Hafiah, Zainab,
‘mm Sulamah - Zainab, Zaid's divorced wife
Juwairiyaly - Lum Habibah ~ Saliyyah, Mary and
Muiminah - Polygamy is met with among the
righteous - Four periods of the Prophet's life - First
pperiad ~ Seoond period - Third period -Circumstancos
fn which the Holy Prophet lived - How lee passed bis
nights - Simplicity of his tife - Prophet's wives fed a
sample ile ~ Protection of women was the undectying
‘idea - Policieal reasons - Other eonsideraions - Fourth,
period - Prophet's natural king was not le polygamy

AXIIl-FATST: ALLEGATIONS OF
‘ATROCITIES 203

Biaxed criticism - How Muslims bore abuse
Toferdiction against killing women - ABU Afak - Only
‘combatants could he killed - Kab ihn Asheat - Abul
Hugsig - Permitting rapo isa grioveux eulurnny,