Lessons of the Prophet’s Life

of the Prophet in proper perspective and draw the right lessons from it. This point can be understood from one example. The following saying of the Prophet is related to the Hadith: One killed in defence of his property is a martyr. One killed in defence of his life is a martyr. One killed in defence of his religion is a martyr. One killed in defence of his family is a martyr.29 As the text shows, this hadith is about being “killed,” not about fighting. The Prophet did not mean that whenever there is a threat to one’s property, life, religion or family, one should immediately resort to arms, even if one is slain. Instead, he meant that if a believer is killed on any of these grounds, their death is martyrdom. The hadith is not an incitement to fight; it is a promise of martyrdom to those who are slain. Those who are not sincere in their attitude to religion, however, who are more concerned with giving their whims the stamp of prophetic sanction, will take the words of the hadith and use them to justify their selfish quarrels and nationalistic conflicts. They will say Islam teaches you to stand up for your rights like a man; it urges you to fight in defence of your faith, your life and property, your family and your relatives. If you are victorious, then you have achieved your ends; and if you are defeated, then you are a martyr, and it is only a fortunate minority who attain the heights of martyrdom.