By A. Helwa
“We have sent you (oh Prophet) as a mercy for all humankind.”(Qur’an 21:107)
“If kindness were a visible creation, nothing which Allah has created would be more beautiful than it. “~The Prophet Muhammad
One of the many reasons the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has been respected and honored by Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide is due to his honesty and unique ability to find a peaceful resolution to conflicts that faced his community. The people of Mecca trusted Muhammad so much that they would call him Al-Sadiq, the truthful one, and Al-Amin, the trustworthy one. There are numerous stories that document the noble characteristics of the Prophet (pbuh). If you study the life of the Prophet (pbuh) you will see that he was not concerned with attaining power, money, or fame, but rather his only goal was to please His loving Lord. As the Qur’an says, “Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day and remembers Allah often” (33:21).
It is through the example of the Prophet (pbuh) that we learn how to put the teachings of the Qur’an into practice. Many Muslims read stories of the Prophet (pbuh) and follow his sunna or tradition, to learn by example how to be merciful, forgiving, and kind even when people are harsh, hateful, and hurtful to you.
One of the most profound examples of the Prophet’s (pbuh) compassion is illustrated in the story of an old woman who lived in his neighborhood and threw trash at him every day because she vehemently disagreed with his religious views. On one particular day, the Propjet (pbuh) noticed that his neighbor was not outside as usual, waiting to harass him. When he inquired about her whereabouts and found out she was sick, he went to visit her, to see if there was anything she needed. When she saw him, she was humbled by his compassion and amazed by the gentleness of his spirit, which inspired her to become a Muslim. (Story told by Majd Arbil, “The Compassion of the Prophet Towards Those Who Abused Him,” www.islamicity.org)
In the Qur’an, Allah honors the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) by saying, “You are, indeed, of a sublime nature” (68:4). In esoteric commentaries, scholars have suggested that often when Allah says “you” and lovingly addresses the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), he is also addressing the inner purity of all humankind. Every human being originated from a single soul (7:189), so when we contemplate and witness the beautiful attributes of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and the prophets that came before him, we begin to see the innate beauty of our own soul. Just as you cannot crave something you have never tried, you cannot see in another person a quality you have never tasted within yourself. Like spiritual salt, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brings out the diverse flavors of the divine names that are hidden within the recipe of every human soul.
This blog is an excerpt from A. Helwa’s recently published best-selling book, “Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam.” Her book is available on Amazon.com
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About A. Helwa
A. Helwa believes that every single person on Earth is deeply loved by the Divine. She is a writer who has inspired hundreds of thousands of readers through her passionate, poetic, and love-based approach to spirituality. Her popular blog @quranquotesdaily, was established while obtaining her Masters in Divinity, as a means of helping others overcome personal and spiritual struggles on their journey of experiencing divine love.
With over 15 years of experience writing and speaking on Islam and spiritual development, A. Helwa draws from her personal experiences and traditional sources to help her readers access ‘Divine love in everyday life.’