PROPHET MUHAMMAD—PART I

The Prophet of Islam discovered Truth in the fortieth year of his arduous life. It was an attainment, the Truth that he stood face to face with an Almighty God. It was discovery of his helplessness before the might of God, of his nothingness before the supernatural magnitude of the Almighty. With this discovery it became clear that God’s faithful servant had nothing but responsibilities in this world; he had no rights. The meaning that life took on for the Prophet after the Truth came to him can be ascertained from these words: Nine things the Lord has commanded me. Fear of God in private and in public; Justness, whether in anger or in calmness; Moderation in both poverty and affluence; That I should join hands with those who break away from me; and give to those who deprive me; and forgive those who wrong me; and that my silence should be meditation; and my words remembrance of God; and my vision keen observation. (Hadith of Razin) These words were a reflection of the Prophet’s very life. Poignant and wondrously effective words of this nature could not emanate from an empty soul; they indicate the status of the speaker; they are an outpouring of his inner being, an unquenchable spirit revealed in verbal form. Even before this revelation, the Prophet’s life had followed the same pattern. The motivation however had been subconscious; now it rose to the level of consciousness. Actions previously based on instinctive impulses now became the well-conceived results of profound thinking. This is the state of one who reduces material needs to a minimum; whose life assumes a unique pattern; who in body lives in this world, but in spirit dwells on another plane. The Prophet once said, A discerning person should have some special moments: a moment of communion with God; a moment of self-examination; a moment of reflection over the mysteries of creation; and a moment which he puts aside for eating and drinking. (Hadith of ibn Hibban) The Prophet sought to delve beyond external appearances, and seek out the reality of life.