Spirit of Islam, Nov-Dec 2024

The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad) The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Who is Muhammad, the person believed by Muslims as the Prophet of God? Muhammad, meaning the ‘praised one’, was born in AD 571 in the North Arabian city of Makkah, which was then inhabited mainly by the tribe of Quraysh. Muhammad’s family belonged to one of the noble clans of Quraysh – the clan of Banu Hashim. He grew up as an orphan. His father, Abdullah died before he was born, and his mother passed away when he was just six years old. He was looked after, first by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, and then his uncle, Abu Talib. From his early youth, he impressed his countrymen as a person of high integrity, and they called him Al-Ameen (The Trustworthy). Muhammad was a Truth-seeker. He would often spend days in contemplation in the cave of Hira. He would think about the universe, how it has been made, the people around him, growing injustice in the society, what God expects from us, His Creation. It was on one such night that the Archangel Jibril came down to him with the first few verses of the chapter The Clot from the Quran. He had been chosen to convey God’s message to people. Thus began the journey of his prophethood. He conveyed the message of God to people for the next 23 years. What is the status of Prophet Muhammad in Islam? Prophet Muhammad was the last Prophet sent to all humankind. The word of God, the Holy Quran, was revealed to him through the Angel Jibril. The Prophet went through sorrows and joys like an ordinary human being. What sets him apart from the rest of humankind is his sublime character. He was the most noble person. His task was to receive God’s revelations, and communicate it to people, teach them wisdom and help them in purification of their souls.