--- Erooth Mohamed <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2006 10:06:12 +0300 > From: "Erooth Mohamed" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Muhammad as a Political Leader > > *Muhammad as a Political > Leader*<http://muhammad.islamonline.net/English/His_Example/HisRoles/02.shtml#*#*> > * > > *By Dr. Muzammil H. > Siddiqi***<http://muhammad.islamonline.net/English/His_Example/HisRoles/02.shtml#**#**> > > http://muhammad.islamonline.net/English/His_Example/HisRoles/02.shtml > > > > Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was > both a prophet of Allah > (God) and a statesman. His leadership was most > comprehensive and dynamic. He > was the paragon of virtue and spirituality. He was a > noble and compassionate > teacher, guide, and reformer. He was a family man. > Indeed, he was also a > political leader. > > As a political leader, Muhammad (peace and blessings > be upon him) unified > the Arabian peninsula, established a great state > whose capital was Madinah, > defeated his enemies, and went on successful > military expeditions. However, > his real political leadership was in the realm of > morality and spirituality > in which he conducted himself perfectly in > situations of weakness as well as > strength. His way of dealing in Makkah and Madinah > indicates his great > political leadership. > > He was always willing to help others. Allah granted > him the special gift to > resolve conflicts and disputes. Even before he > became Muhammad of Allah, he > was able to resolve a major dispute between the > people of Makkah. It is > reported that the people of Makkah were repairing > the walls of the Kabah. > When the time came to place the Black Stone in its > place in the southeast > corner of the Kabah, each tribe wanted to have this > honor. > > Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked > to be the judge and > decide the matter fairly. He resolved this dispute > with great wisdom in an > amicable way. He spread his own cloak on the ground > and placed the stone > upon it. He then asked representatives of each tribe > to lift the cloak > together. When the Black Stone reached the required > height from the ground > he went forward and set it in its place. > > Muhammad always wanted to make peace among people. > At an early age it is > reported that when some people of Makkah wanted to > establish a committee to > suppress violence in their society, he immediately > joined them. This > committee took a pledge of virtue known as the Hilf > al-Fudul. Later during > his prophetic life he recalled this pledge and > praised it highly and said: > > Even now if I am called upon in the name of this > pledge, I shall not refuse. > > Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was a man > of ideals, but he was > also a practical man. He preached the message of > Islam to all and did not > isolate himself from his society. He used all of the > good traditions and > customs they had and benefited from them. Although > his uncle, Abu Talib, did > not accept his message of the oneness of Allah, he > was willing to give him > all his support and help in the Islamic work. > Muhammad appreciated his > uncle's help. After his uncle's death he went to > Taif to seek alliances with > some other tribes there. He did not succeed, but it > is important to note > that he was trying to seek alliances for the cause > of Islam. > > The Hijrah to Abyssinia is also an example of his > political skill in seeking > alliances with others. When the persecution > increased in Makkah and some of > his followers found it difficult to live in that > environment, he allowed > them to migrate to Abyssinia and seek the help of > the Christian negus (king) > there. > > In Abyssinia, Muslims found peace and they > reciprocated the negus' > hospitality with prayers and support for the negus > and his subjects. > Muslims' relations were so good with the negus that > he grew to love Islam > and before his death he became a Muslim. > > Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was a > skillful and courageous > political leader. His enemies could not scare or > intimidate him. He never > succumbed to any temptations. The people of Makkah > tried to turn him away > from his message and mission by offering him a great > deal of money or > anything that he wanted for himself but with one > condition that he would > give up his mission. Muhammad very firmly, yet > politely, turned down all > their offers. > > In Madinah, Muhammad established a state where all > people were equal, where > matters were decided through consultation, and where > all people had to > follow the same law. It was a state without any > favoritism in favor of any > family or group. Even a non-Muslim could not to be > mistreated under his > rule. > > The story of Tumah ibn Abraq is an excellent example > of justice and human > rights for all people under his authority. Tumah, > who was a Muslim, stole > someone's armor in Madinah and then he blamed a Jew. > Allah sent a special > revelation to warn people against such injustice > (see Quran 4:110-112). The > Jewish citizen of Madinah was declared innocent and > Tumah was found guilty. > > Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) took > great care of his people's > religious as well as economic needs. Not only did he > preach, but he was also > concerned about their economic well-being. He made > treaties and alliances > with many tribes. He had great diplomatic skills. He > taught the world > diplomacy that was built on morality and honesty. He > honored all his > treaties and he defended his people. He was aware of > the surrounding > circumstances and made his people ready and alert. > He never initiated a > battle or a war, but when he was attacked he was > firm and decisive. He > always emphasized peace and harmonious relations. > > Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was a man > of great patience and > resolution. There are many lessons for us to learn > from his life. The most > important aspect of his leadership was that he was > always honest and > truthful. Even his enemies could not find any flaw > in his honesty and > truthfulness. > > The most beautiful example of Muhammad's patience > can be seen in *a > conversation*<http://muhammad.islamonline.net/English/Prophethood_Explained/NatureofProphets/02.shtml>carried > out between Heraclius, the Emperor of the Byzantine > Empire, and Abu Sufyan who was a bitter enemy of > Muhammad at that time. This > conversation took place in the year 628 CE when > Heraclius received a letter > from Muhammad. > > Heraclius was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem when he > received this important > letter. After receiving the message, the Emperor > sent for his chief of > police and told him to search the country for a man > from the same tribe as > the one who claimed to be a prophet. Abu Sufyan, a > leader of the Quraish, > who was a bitter enemy of Muhammad at that time, > happened to be trading in > Gaza with some of his companions from Makkah. The > Emperor's search party > found them there and they were immediately taken to > Jerusalem. > > Heraclius called them in the court and he had all > the senior Roman > dignitaries around him. He called for his translator > who, translating > Heraclius' question said to them, "Who amongst you > is closely related to > that man who claims to be a Prophet?" Abu Sufyan > replied, "I am the nearest > relative (amongst the group) to him." > > Heraclius said, "Bring him (Abu Sufyan) close to me > and make his companions > stay behind him." Abu Sufyan added, "Heraclius told > his translator to tell > my companions that he wanted to put some questions > to me regarding that man > (The Prophet) and that if I told a lie they (my > companions) should > contradict me." Abu Sufyan added, "By Allah! Had I > not been afraid of my > companions labeling me a liar, I would not have > spoken the truth about the > Prophet. > > The first question Heraclius asked me about was: > "What is his family status > among you?" I replied, "He belongs to a good (noble) > family amongst us." > Heraclius further asked, "Has anybody else amongst > you ever claimed the same > (i.e., to be a Prophet) before him?" I replied, > "No." He said, "Was anybody > amongst his ancestors a king?" I replied, "No." > Heraclius asked, "Do the > nobles or the poor follow him?" I replied, "It is > the poor who follow him." > He said, "Are his followers increasing or decreasing > (day by day)?" I > replied, "They are increasing." He then asked, "Does > anybody amongst those > who embrace his religion become displeased and > renounce the religion > afterwards?" I replied, "No." Heraclius said, "Have > you ever accused him of > telling lies before his claim (to be a Prophet)? I > replied, "No." Heraclius > said, "Does he break his promises?" I replied, "No. > We are in a truce with > him but we do not know what he will do in it." I > could not find opportunity > to say anything against him except that. Heraclius > asked, "Have you ever had > a war with him?" I replied, "Yes." Then he said, > "What were the outcome of > the battles?" I replied, "Sometimes he was > victorious and sometimes we." > Heraclius said, "What does he order you to do?" I > said, "He tells us to > worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship > anything along with Him, > and to renounce all that our ancestors had said. He > orders us to pray, to be > chaste and to keep good relations with our kith and > kin." > > After this conversation it is reported that > Heraclius said: > > "I asked you about his family and your reply was > that he belonged to a very > noble family. In fact, all the Apostles come from > noble families amongst > their respective peoples. I questioned you whether > anybody amongst you ever > claimed such a thing, your reply was in the > negative. If your reply had been > in the affirmative, I would have thought that this > man was following the > previous man's statement. Then I asked you whether > anyone of his ancestors > was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if > it had been in the > affirmative, I would have thought that this man > wanted to take back his > ancestral kingdom. I further asked whether he was > ever accused of telling > lies before he said what he said, and your reply was > in the negative. So I > wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about > others could ever tell a > lie about God. I then asked you whether the rich > people followed him or the > poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed > him. And in fact all the > Apostles have been followed by the poor in the > beginning. Then I asked you > whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. > You replied that they > were increasing, and in fact this is the way of true > faith, till it is > complete in all respects. I further asked whether > there was anybody, who, > after embracing his religion, became displeased and > discarded his religion. > Your reply was in the negative, and in fact this is > (the sign of) true > faith, when its light enters the hearts and mixes > with them completely. I > asked you whether he had ever betrayed. You replied > in the negative and > likewise Apostles never betray. Then I asked you > what he ordered you to do. > You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah and > Allah alone and not to > worship anything along with Him and forbade you to > worship idols and ordered > you to pray, to speak truth and to be chaste. > > If what you have said is true, he will very soon > occupy this place > underneath my feet and I knew it (from the > scriptures) that he was going to > appear but I did not know that he would be from you, > and if I could reach > him definitely, I would go immediately to meet him > and if I were with him, I > would certainly wash his feet." > > > > * Excerpted, with some modifications from: > http://pakistanlink.com/religion.html > > ** President of the Fiqh Council of North America > > Source: > http://www.pakistanlink.com/religion/06182004.html > > > > * * >
-------------------------------------------------------- Cemil Celepci [EMAIL PROTECTED] Istanbul / Turkiye [EMAIL PROTECTED] Moderatörü http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamicdialogue - Turkish and English messages http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamicdialogue3 - Only English messages http://www.network54.com/Forum/417329 - Turkish and English messages These links may be visited for memberships or for reading the archive. Bu linkler üyelik veya tüm mesajlarý okumak için ziyaret edilebilir. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com *************************************************************************** {Invite (mankind, O Muhammad ) to the Way of your Lord (i.e. Islam) with wisdom (i.e. with the Divine Inspiration and the Qur'an) and fair preaching, and argue with them in a way that is better. Truly, your Lord knows best who has gone astray from His Path, and He is the Best Aware of those who are guided.} (Holy Quran-16:125) {And who is better in speech than he who [says: "My Lord is Allah (believes in His Oneness)," and then stands straight (acts upon His Order), and] invites (men) to Allah's (Islamic Monotheism), and does righteous deeds, and says: "I am one of the Muslims."} (Holy Quran-41:33) The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, if Allah guides one person by you, it is better for you than the best types of camels." [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim] The prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also said, "Whoever calls to guidance will have a reward similar to the reward of the one who follows him, without the reward of either of them being lessened at all." [Muslim, Ahmad, Aboo Daawood, an-Nasaa'ee, at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Maajah] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- All views expressed herein belong to the individuals concerned and do not in any way reflect the official views of IslamCity unless sanctioned or approved otherwise. If your mailbox clogged with mails from IslamCity, you may wish to get a daily digest of emails by logging-on to http://www.yahoogroups.com to change your mail delivery settings or email the moderators at [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the title "change to daily digest". Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/islamcity/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
