2017 04 The Light April 2017

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April 2017 The Light 4 “It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knew how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Boswoth Smith - If ever a man had the right to say that he Prophet, one of the great messengers of the ruled by a right divine, Supreme. And it was Muham- mad, although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel, whenever I reread them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher.” Mahatma Gandhi, the pre-eminent leader of the Indian Independence Movement in British-ruled India, and the person to whom modern day non-violence movements trace their roots (like that of Dr Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights movement), after studying the life of Prophet Muhammad wrote: “I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These, and not the sword, carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble.” Alphonso La Martine, famous French historian, wrote in his, Histoire de la Turqe, 1854, Vol 2: “If greatness of purpose, smallness of means and astounding results, are three criteria of human genius, who would dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad?” Dr Michael Hart, an American, scientist by profession, more recently, studied important historical figures and ranked the top 100 most influential persons in history. He published his rankings in a book titled: The 100 and number I Shall Love All Mankind. one on his list was the “Prophet Muhammad”. He writes: “He [Muhammad] was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the secular and religious level . . . It is this unparalleled combination of the secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered to be the most influential single figure in human history.” Similarly, it was stated in the Encyclopaedia Britannica that the Prophet Muhammad was: “. . . that most successful of all prophets and religious personalities.” (11th edition, under ‘Koran’, 1st paragraph) Distinguishing characteristic of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s): From an orphan to a king of a great empire, the Holy Prophet Muhammad passed through all phases of life so that he was able to provide a model for people in many different roles. If he had not been a labourer, he could not have revealed the value and integrity in working with one’s own hands and earning an honest living. If he had not in his youth organized grassroots campaigns to serve the poor and it was not the protect the weaker sword that won members of society, a place for Islam he could not have - Gandhi been an inspiration for socially conscious community organizers. If he had not married, he would have left people unguided in practically half of their daily interactions, and could not have shown how to be a kind and affectionate spouse and a loving parent. If he had not been the head of an armed force, he could not have served as an example for a responsible general or an accountable commander-in-chief in the fight for justice. If he had not formed rules and regulations
April 2017 The Light 5 for his community, he could not have been regarded as an example for a conscientious legislator. If he had not been in the position to decide disputes among people, he could not have served as a model for an impartial judge or effective mediator. If he had not had life-long friends, he could not have shown the beauty in true and trusted companionship. And if he had not been persecuted by tyrants, and then overcome his persecuting enemies, and forgiven them without enforcing any punishment against them, he could not have practically illustrated the lessons on compassion, mercy and forgiveness that are contained in all revealed scriptures. According to the Holy Quran Muhammad was raised as a ‘mercy’ for all the worlds – not as a threat to peace to be feared by anyone. Finally, Thomas Carlyle, famous Scottish philosopher, writer and historian, considered one of the most important social commentators of his time, who produced the famed work On Heroes, Hero-Worship and the Heroic in History, after studying the life of Prophet Muhammad, concedes: The lies (from western critics), which wellmeaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only. (emphasis is mine) We strongly condemn all acts of violence and the abuses of the rights of all humankind and the rest of God’s creation – we especially condemn, at the top of our voices, the ruthless killings conducted in the name of Religion or State! What is Enlightenment? An Islamic Perspective M. A Muqtedar Khan, University of Delaware (First printed in Journal of Religion & Society vol. 16 produced by The Kripke Center) Abstract The lies (from western critics), which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only. Thomas Carlyle This essay draws on Immanuel Kant’s concept of enlightenment as an escape from selfimposed ignorance and argues that a similar concept of enlightenment can be understood within the Muslim context as escape from selfimposed jahiliyyah 1 , which is understood as fear to exercise reason publicly. The article advocates for ijtihad 2 , is critical of Taqlid 3 , and invokes Islamic sources to invest confidence in contemporary use of reason for interpreting Islam. Return of Jahiliyyah An Enlightenment has come ب ‏ِكُمْ‏ ۖ to you from your Lord (Quran 6:104). قَدْ‏ جَٓاءَكُم بَصَ‏ ‏ٓائِرُ‏ مِن ر ََّ For nearly a millennium and a half, Muslims have understood Islam as a human condition that is antithetical to jahiliyyah (ignorance). Most historical and religious accounts of Islam begin with a discussion of the state of ignorance in Arabia and often use it as a benchmark to underscore the civilizing influence of Islam on the barbaric Arabs of pre-Islamic Arabia. The great Islamic civilization that was produced with the explosion of knowledge in the fields of philosophy, science, sociology, medicine, and mathematics still remains a central influence on Islamic identity and an example of the indubitable truth of Islam and its transformative potential. In the same vein, the rationality of Islamic beliefs and Islamic socio-political order remains a major theme in the discourses of Islamic intellectuals, scholars, and preachers. The point I seek to make is simple: Muslims have always understood Islam as enlightenment, the path that rescued humanity from ignorance, irrationality, and superstitions and catapulted 1 Jahaliya – Arabic term used for the period in Arabia before the advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s) meaning days of ignorance. I Shall Love All Mankind. 2 Ijtihad – Use of reason. 3 Taqlid – Blindly following the religious decrees of religious authorities.
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2017 04 The Light April 2017

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