Rabbi-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar is a very important month because Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in this month in 571 AD. Muhammed during his adolescence and adulthood was called ‘Al-Ameen and As-Sadiq’ meaning ‘Truthful’ and ‘Trustworthy’ respectively. He was called so because not a soul knew of him to lie or cheat another fellow human being. At the age of 40, he received prophethood and brought the religion of Islam again to the world.
Those were the days when people had begun worshipping idols, besides following blindly the customs and traditions of their forefathers. With the advent of Islam, the pagans of Arabia realized the importance of Tauheed (oneness of god). He brought the word of god to the ignorant people who had deviated from the concept of monotheism.
Islam talked about equality during the seventh century much before Martin Luther King Jr. fought for equality for the blacks in America. Gender bias was an accepted norm as girl children were buried alive and women were treated as objects of pleasure by men. Female infanticide was rampant. People thought that it was shameful to have girl children.
But with the advent of Prophet Muhammad, the scenario changed. He re-introduced Islam to the world which was groping in the dark. Islam gave women the highest status and respect. Men and women are treated equally, which was a rarity until then. Prophet also highlighted the importance of women through his sayings such as ‘Paradise is under the feet of your mother’. He gave so much importance to the female gender that he said, ‘If a man had even one daughter and has raised her well, then he would surely go to heaven’.
The Arabs had distorted view on heaven and hell. The concept was explained in great detail in the Holy Qur’an, the word of Allah, which was brought to humanity by Prophet. Islam also highlighted the aspects of peace and harmony. Alcohol and all other forms of intoxication were prohibited. It gave the world an art of living, in its true sense.
Prophet Muhammad also discouraged communalism and favouritism. He unequivocally declared that the noblest among the human beings in the sight of Allah is the one who is more pious. When the Prophet (SAWS) was asked about his views on communalism, he said ‘an act can be called as communal if a person supports his people in spite of being aware of the injustice they cause and the pain they inflict on others’.
Prophet Muhammad was not only a missionary, but he was also a revolutionary, a ruler, a social worker. He practiced what he preached and led a very simple life. His life is an example to all of us. On this day, let us re-remember his deeds and the message of Allah that he brought to the whole mankind, and act upon it.
The writer is a student of BA in Journalism, St. Aloysius College, Mangalore
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