Welcome to the 1st weekly episode of the series Mohammad, Radiant Sun of Guidance, which studies the tradition of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), introducing Prophet Mohammad as a unique role model for mankind.

Throughout the course of history, a number of thinkers and leaders have risen from their communities, inviting their contemporary people toward their elevated goals and ideals. However, their domains of influence have been different from each other. Some of them maintained limited domains of influence and were therefore not considered as important in a historical and social viewpoint. However, some of these thinkers and leaders have maintained larger domains of influence and have managed to continue their existence, by deeply influencing people.

Such movements maintain an important status and should be studied and analyzed. Meanwhile, the movements which have grown and progressed in all dimensions and aspects are of paramount importance. These movements have maintained a large domain of influence and have continued their existence throughout centuries, highly influencing mankind’s soul and thoughts. Such influential movements and invitations have been made by prophets. History shows that no philosophical and ideological school of thought has managed to capture the hearts and mindsets of millions of people and to deeply influence mankind throughout several centuries; as the divine religions have.

This important and prominent feature has introduced prophets as the main direct and/or indirect creators of history. In other words, if we liken the human community to a sea; each of the ideological, scientific, ethical, and artistic events and developments has had a ripple effect in the human community. Some of these waves have been short-lived. But, some other waves have been heavy and have removed all obstacles on their way. The liveliest social waves have been religious waves and movements. The bonds established by these waves and movements with the innate nature of mankind have maintained their originality and perpetuity more than any other phenomenon. No other movement maintains the power of growth and elevation to this extent. The history of the divine religion of Islam is highly educational and astonishing from this viewpoint. The day in which the Prophet of Islam left Cave Hera, while wholeheartedly sensing his prophet hood, he invited people to monotheism, creating a huge wave, by reliance upon the one and only creator of the universe, God Almighty.

The domain of influence of this call was very limited at first and only included Prophet’s venerable wife, Khadija, and Prophet’s cousin, Imam Ali (Peace be upon him). However, after a short while, the divine religion of Islam’s domain of influence widely grew, gradually covering the Arabian Peninsula and even growing in other parts of the world in less than half a century. Meanwhile, the contemporary world is witness to the ever-increasing might of the sacred religion of Islam.

Holy Quran, after elaborating on a number of characteristic traits of Prophet of Islam and his followers, describes the exemplary growth of Islam via an in-depth and beautiful comparison.

The 29th ayah of Surat Al-Fath in Holy Quran notes: “…Such is their description in the Torah and their description in the Evangel. Like a tillage that sends out its shoots and builds them up, and they grow stout and settle on their stalks, impressing the sowers, so that He may enrage the faithless by them…”

Meanwhile, throughout the course of history, this astonishing growth and progress has been confronted by stiff racial, religious, political, cultural, economic, and military oppositions. In the advent of Islam; the stubborn, prejudiced, and ignorant disbelievers mad strenuous efforts to impede this sacred wave, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, an unlearned prophet, such as the Prophet of Islam rose from people, who were mired in ignorance, corruption, and selfishness. The Prophet of Islam originated a major civilization upon shaping an auspicious and fruitful movement, changing the fate of mankind. Based on this outlook, the necessity of study of the tradition and/or lifestyle of Prophet Mohammad in all social and personal aspects is sensed more than ever. God Almighty also points out this fact in Holy Quran.

The 21st ayah of Surat al-Ahzab in Holy Quran notes: “In the Apostle of Allah there is certainly for you a good exemplar, for those who look forward to Allah and the Last Day, and remember Allah greatly.”

The important point that captures one’s attention in this divine guidance is that God Almighty doesn’t consider any limitation to introduction of Prophet of Islam as a role model, and notes that the behavior of Prophet of Islam should be taken into consideration in all domains. In other words, the Prophet of Islam is a role model for mankind in all personal, social, ethical, political, and military realms.

One of the prime examples of description of the Prophet of Islam’s characteristic traits is found in the remarks of the Jafar son of Abi-Taleb, who was the Prophet’s especial envoy to Abyssinia. When the Abyssinian King, Negus, asked about the nature of the divine religion of Islam and Prophet Mohammad’s invitation, Jafar son of Abi-Taleb noted: “We were a group of ignorant people. We worshiped idols; carried out misdeeds; and shattered bonds with our relatives. We mistreated our neighbors, while the powerful among us, enslaved vulnerable people.

At this point in time, God appointed a man from among us to prophet hood. We knew his family and believed in his righteousness, trustworthiness, and chastity. He called on us to worship God Almighty and to let go of whatever we worshipped other than God. He told us to tell the truth, to be trustworthy, to respect our relatives and associates, to appropriately treat our neighbors, to end bloodshed, to avoid misdeeds and lies; to worship God, to observe daily prayers, to pay Zakat, and to fast. Upon realizing that he was telling the truth, we approved his prophet hood and followed his divine teachings.

Meanwhile, disbelievers persecuted us to somehow force us to revert to idolatry. They resorted to force and were hard on us. So we migrated to your country, wholeheartedly believing in your support.”

Undoubtedly, study of the tradition of Prophet Mohammad can provide a unique role model for the contemporary mankind, who is grappling with countless hardships and woes.

MR/ME