‘Among prophets, Muhammad (SAWS) suffered the most’

Seeratun-Nabi Committee of Delhi organizes lecture on the life and message of Prophet Muhammad

By Manzar Imam

New Delhi: At an era when evil forces combined together had overpowered everything good that could guide humanity to right things, was born Prophet Muhammad. Hence, he was confronted with the strongest reaction and suffered the most among all the prophets. These views were expressed by Maulana Mohammad Asrarul Haque Qasmi. He was speaking at an auspicious meeting of Seeratun-Nabi, organized by the Seeratun-Nabi Committee of Delhi on Friday, 28th November, 2014 at India Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodhi Road.

There was almost pin drop silence when the speakers, Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi and Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi delivered their speeches touching upon different aspects of the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. During the three-hour-long jalsa, qaris and poets recited verses of the Quran and read naat in praise of the Prophet.

People at the time of Prophet Muhammad were degenerate in terms of their thoughts, deeds, forms of worship and belief systems. It is worth thinking, however, whether or not people today are demoralized on those accounts, said Maulana Anisur Rahman Qasmi. Is the notion of Divinity of the Creator free from association in Christianity and Judaism? Is there an inclusive idea of God with all His qualities in Buddhism? Why Muslims in China and Central Asian republics are faced with the problems the way they are?

Maulana Qasmi, nazim of Imarat Shariah, Bihar, Jharkhand & Orissa, went on to say that in terms of number, minority and majority do not matter much. Then why have Muslims become so weak?, asked he. To seek answer to these questions and more, he flashed some historical events in the life of Prophet Muhammad to see what he had done in those circumstances to bring change. Quoting from the Quran, Maulana Qasmi asserted that Prophet Muhammad gave dignity to human beings. Therefore, insulting anyone whether Muslim or non-Muslim is against Islamic teachings.

He further said that Prophet Muhammad brought dignity to human beings and fought for women’s rights. The Prophet gave women the exalted position which had been denied to them.

How did the Prophet made the contrary circumstances conducive for change?, he asked and questionably reiterated whether it was something to be told to Muslims that education alone was the catalyst of change and  ladder of success. “Education alone is the escalator that can take people to greater heights and through which nations can progress”, he affirmed.

The Maulana said that Prophet Muhammad loved people so much so that even his opponents would vouch for it. He lamented that there is hardly any Muslim family where there is no rancor and misunderstanding among its members. “If two brothers and two daughters-in-law in a family cannot have love and respect for one another, how can they think of reforming others?”

Prophet Muhammad first set his own home straight and then asked people to choose the right path, he said and averred that leaving the way of the Prophet amounts to giving up humanity and putting oneself on the wrong track.

Maulana Asrarul Haque Qasmi said that Islam is an eternal guidance for humanity and Quranic principles can keep whole humanity on the path of truth, honesty and integrity with peace.

Maulana Qasmi, who is also a Member of Parliament from Kishanganj, Bihar, said, “Allah has provided people guidance in two ways. One is the intellectual guidance, and the other is the practical guidance.” For intellectual guidance, Allah sent wahy i.e. revelations whereas for practical guidance, He sent down messengers at different times. These messengers practically showed the world how life should be lived.

He further said that Allah did a great favour to us by sending Prophet Muhammad “for our guidance” who not only delivered to us Allah’s message but also showed us how to lead life as desired by Allah.

Maulana Qasmi apprised the people of the challenges that will come their way in practicing and spreading the message of truth. He said that when Prophet Muhammad informed the people about the Oneness of God, he had two kinds of reactions. One was in the form of acknowledging his message that the world would get rid of evil and sail forth for the right path. Another reaction was in the form of complete disregard and rejection of his message. However, the Prophet did not lose heart and carried on with what was ordered to him by Allah i.e. “O Messenger, deliver whatever has been sent down to you by your Lord. If you do not do so, you will not have conveyed His message. God will defend you from mankind. For God does not guide those who deny the truth. (Quran: 5:67)

He said that the speech that Prophet Muhammad gave on the occasion of his Last Haj “contains the principles of a better life” and it has all the necessary guidance – the duties, the obligations that a man has towards his fellow beings.

In that sermon, “the Prophet reiterated that all human beings were equal hence, they must be treated with equality, whether rich or poor, Arab or Non-Arab.” In God’s eyes all living beings are His family therefore, creating any distinction on the basis of one’s colour or race amounts to dishonoring what Allah has made honourable.

He said that Muslims have failed in their duty to take the message of God to people, called D’awah, and added that “D’awah has to be done in a way that the other person is not insulted of humiliated”.

Maulana Qasmi, who is also President of Delhi-based All India Talimi Wa Milli Foundation, said, “Every Muslim has two duties, to order good and stop others from evil”. He continued that the former does not involve much risk whereas the latter has greater risk because, “stopping someone from evil may sometimes evoke a very strong reaction” during which a Muslim has to exercise great patience. He should not have ill will and should not be disheartened because the sufferings that the Prophet have had were much more than anyone can imagine. The Prophet himself said, “Among the prophets, I have suffered the most”.

Mohd. Yunus, president of the Seeratun-Nabi Committee appealed the people to listen to ulama and read good and authentic books on the life Prophet Muhammad. Engineer Kauser Ali, general secretary, presented the Committee’s report. A souvenir on the seerat of Prophet Muhammad and activities of the Committee was also released on this occasion.

Muhammad Salman Amrohi’s beautiful recitation of naat: Tum Aaye To Jahan Bhar Mein Sawera Kar Diya Tum Ne/Mere Aaqa Andhere Mein Ujala Kar Diya Tum Ne, (Your advent heralded a bright morning, O Prophet! You spread light over darkness,), was loved and appreciated by all.

Both men and women from diverse spheres of life attended the two lectures in large numbers which ended with prayers for the country’s development and world peace.

 

(Manzar Imam is a freelance journalist based in Delhi. He can be reached at manzarkhalil@gmail.com)

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