Islamic views of Muhammad

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Islamic prophet Muhammad
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Muslim beliefs concerning Muhammad in some aspects vary widely between the sects of Islam. This article focuses on these sects' doctrines and beliefs surrounding Muhammad.

Contents

[edit] Veneration of Muhammad

Muslims have many ways to express veneration for Muhammad, as an acknowledgement of him being the final prophet of Islam.

[edit] The doctrine of Sinlessness of Muhammad

[edit] Common beliefs

  • All Muslims believe that Muhammad was sinless in the sense of transmitting the revelation:
“And if the apostle were to invent any sayings in Our name, We should certainly seize him by his right hand, And We should certainly then cut off the artery of his heart: Nor could any of you withhold him (from Our wrath).” 69:44-47.

[edit] Sunni beliefs

The understanding that Muhammad (and the Prophets in general) did commit sins does exist among Sunnis. However, the doctrine of sinlessness of Muhammad is also more or less incorporated into Sunnis beliefs. Some Sunni scholars believe that the doctrine of the sinlessness of the Prophets originated with the Shi'a, specifically in connection with the Imamate, and was transmitted to the Sunnis via the Sufis and Mu'tazila. [1]. Shia scholars disagree [2].

Some stories say that angels split Muhammad's breast when he was but a child and pulled out all the sin, which appeared as a clot of blood.

[edit] Shia beliefs

The doctorine of sinlessness in Shia'ism is called Ismah(Arabic/Persian: ِعصمت) literally means 'protection' and is generally translated as "sinlessness". Protection is believed to be of three types of "Protection from mistake in receiving the revelation from Allah", "Protection from mistake in conveying the revelation of Allah" and "Protection from sins." It is believed that all the prophets together with Fatima (daughter of Muhammad) and the twelve descendants of Muhammad through Fatima are sinless. [3]

The Shi'a teaches that Muhammad, Fatima together with the twelve descendants of Muhammad through Fatima are purified by God (See the Event of the Cloak). They are commonly called fourteen infallibles. Though the fourteen infallibles are human being and may be tempted by Satan towards sin, it is believed that they will be helped by God to overcome Satan’s temptations. The following verse of Qur’an is sometimes cited to prove this position.

(Satan) said: "O my Lord! because Thou hast put me in the wrong, I will make (wrong) fair-seeming to them on the earth, and I will put them all in the wrong,- Except Thy servants among them, sincere and purified (by Thy Grace)." (15:39-40)

[edit] Some relevant Qur’anic verses

[According to Yusuf Ali translation]

(Prophet Joseph said) "Nor do I absolve my own self (of blame): the (human) soul is certainly prone to evil, unless my Lord do bestow His Mercy: but surely my Lord is Oft- forgiving, Most Merciful." (12:53)
"Patiently, then, persevere: for the Promise of Allah is true: and ask forgiveness for thy fault, and celebrate the Praises of thy Lord in the evening and in the morning."(40:55)
“ That Allah may forgive thee thy faults of the past and those to follow; fulfil His favour to thee; and guide thee on the Straight Way;” (48:2)
“Know, therefore, that there is no god but Allah, and ask forgiveness for thy fault, and for the men and women who believe: for God knows how ye move about and how ye dwell in your homes.” (47:19)

[edit] When was Muhammad’s soul created?

[edit] Shia beliefs

Some Shi'a believe that the souls of Muhammad and all the Five Pure Ones were created at the beginning of the world, and it was through them that all the rest of creation arose.

[edit] What was the fate of Muhammad's soul after his death?

[edit] Barelvi views

Barelvis believe that Muhammad is not gone, but that his spirit pervades the world and can be reached by true seekers.

For the Barelvis, (who are mostly from the Pakistan province of Punjab) the holy Prophet is a superhuman figure whose presence is all around us at all times; he is Hazir (present); he is not Bashar (material or flesh) but Nur (light). [2]
It has been stated in the Hadith: "Verily, Almighty Allah has made it Haraam upon the earth to eat the bodies of the Ambiya". It has also been stated that Ambiya are alive and are blessed with Sustenance from Almighty Allah. [3]

[edit] Muslim description of Muhammad

[edit] Common beliefs

Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your Allah is one Allah. whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner. (18:110)

[edit] Miracles

Most Muslims believe that Muhammad performed miracles, such as splitting the moon. Not all Muslims accept such miraculous events.

[edit] Islamic Piety

The now Public domain Encyclopedia Brittanica states:

   
Islamic views of Muhammad
 Muhammad and Islamic piety

One cannot understand Islamic piety without comprehending the role of Muhammad in it. His birthday is celebrated throughout the Islamic world during the month of Rabi'al-Awwal, not in the same way that Christians celebrate Christmas but as a major feast. Only in Wahhabi-dominated Saudi Arabia are these celebrations not encouraged publicly; there they are somewhat subdued. In the rest of the Islamic world, the miracles associated with his life, such as the “cleaving of the moon” (shaqq al-qamar), the Qur'anic revelation through an unlettered (ummi) person, his Nocturnal Journey, and other events, are celebrated in numerous ways. Ordinary Muslims as well as the highly educated repeat the Qur'anic dictum that Muhammad was sent as “mercy unto all the worlds” (rahmatan li' al-'alamin). People ask for his shifa'ah, or intercession on the Day of Judgment, hoping to assemble that day under the green “flag of praise” (liwa' al-hamd) carried by him. Muslims experience the Prophet as a living reality and believe that he has an ongoing relation not only with human beings but also with animals and plants. His relics are held sacred, and major edifices such as the Jami' Mosque of Delhi, India, have been constructed around them. His own tomb is, after the Ka'bah in Mecca, the most important site of Islamic pilgrimage, and all other pilgrimage sites—from Moulay Idris in Morocco to the Shi'ite places of pilgrimage in Iran and Iraq to the tomb of Mu'in al-Din Chishti in Ajmer in India—are considered “extensions” of his mausoleum in Medina.

The benediction upon the Prophet punctuates daily Muslim life, and traditional Islamic life reminds one at every turn of his ubiquitous presence. He even plays a major role in dreams. There are many prayers recited in order to be able to have a dream of the Prophet, who promised that the Devil could never appear in a dream in the form of Muhammad. Not only for saints and mystics but also for many ordinary pious people, a simple dream of the Prophet has been able to transform a whole human life. One might say that the reality of the Prophet penetrates the life of Muslims on every level, from the external existence of the individual and of Islamic society as a whole to the life of the psyche and the soul and finally to the life of the spirit.[4]
   
Islamic views of Muhammad

[edit] In speaking and writing

When speaking or writing, Muhammad's name is often followed by the phrase "peace be upon him," in English often abbreviated to PBUH or simply "(p)".

Muhammad is often referenced with titles of praise:

  • Al Mustafa, "the chosen one"
  • Al Rasul, "the Messenger"
  • Al Nabi, "the Prophet"
  • Al Khatim, "the seal"
  • Al Ummi, "the unlettered one"
  • Al Amin, "the trustworthy"
  • Al Sadiq, "the truthful"
  • Al Mutawkkil, "the one who puts his trust [in God]"
  • Al Kutham, "the generous one"
  • Al Fatih, "the opener"
  • Al Mahi, "the eraser [of disbelief]" [5]
  • Al Hashir, "the gatherer [of souls on the day of judgement]" [5]
  • Al Aqib, "the last [prophet]" [5]
  • Al Dahuk, "the one who smiles, the cheerful one"

Also:

  • Abu al-Qasem
  • Ahmad, "the chosen one" [5]

Muhammad Maher Hamadeh, in his Ph.D. dissertation, lists 1,548 different titles of praise for Muhammad.[citation needed]

See also this.

[edit] Praise in poetry and music

Islamic poetry is rich in the praise and flattery of Muhammad. Rarely is there any Muslim poet who is without any piece written on him. In fact there is a special class of poetry, known as Nasheed (Arabic) or Naat (urdu), devoted to such praise. This is inspired by the Islamic traditions (ahadith) that each act of veneration would result in 10 times the blessing of God on the praiser. (see Praise of Muhammad in poetry).
Concerts of Muslim and especially Sufi devotional music include songs praising Muhammad (see Islamic music, Sufism).

[edit] The birthday of Muhammad (Mawlid)

Some Muslims celebrate Muhammad's birthday with elaborate festivities. Cities and homes are illuminated with colorful lights and candles, parades and processions are carried out, and conferences on the life of the Prophet are held. Other Muslims, such as the Salafi sect, feel that such celebrations are idolatry or shirk or innovations and discountenance them. According to scholarly consensus among Sunni scholars, singling out a particularly day to celebrate the birth of the Prophet and to celebrate it in a fashion that is similar to celebrations held by non-Muslims is especially sinful and is also considered Bid'ah.

[edit] Punishment of criticism

Criticism of Muhammad is often equated with blasphemy, which is punishable (by death) in some Muslim-majority or Islamic states. This is because the Muslim belief is that Muhammad was the messenger of God himself, and that his actions were willed by God. [citation needed]Many Muslims believe that to reject and criticise Muhammad is to reject and criticise God.[citation needed]

The most notorious recent case of a critic condemned to death is that of Salman Rushdie, who wrote a novel (The Satanic Verses), satirizing Muhammad as a cynical schemer and his wives as prostitutes. In 1989 Rushdie was condemned to death in a fatwa issued by Iran's theocratic leader, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Rushdie had to go into hiding for years.

Pakistan is frequently in the news for prosecutions under its strict blasphemy law. If the courts decline to act, angry crowds have been known to lynch the suspected blasphemer.[4]

In 2005 a Danish newspaper, the Jyllands-Posten, printed some drawings of Muhammed, some of which were considered unflattering. Some countries -- Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Iraq among them -- protested vigorously to the Danish government for not taking action against the newspaper, but the Danish government responded that it does not control the media.

[edit] Relics of the prophet

Relics of the prophet, such as his grave, his sword, his clothing, are revered. The largest collection of such relics is to be found in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace museum, where the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle contains items said to be Muhammad's robe, his banner, his footprint, some of his hair, etc. [5], [6], [7]

Other sites displaying items said to be relics of Muhammad:

  • Jama Masjid, New Delhi, India, displays a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals, and his footprint, embedded in a marble slab.
  • Hazrat Bal Dargah, Mosque of the Prophet's Hair, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
  • Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad, India, claims to have a hair from Muhammad's beard, his cloak, and his footprint.
  • Noor Mahal, Uch, Pakistan, claims to hold one of Muhammad's hairs.
  • Badshahi Mosque Museum, Lahore, Pakistan, once held a pair of shoes said to have belonged to Muhammad. They were stolen in 2002.
  • Karka Sharif, Kandahar, Afghanistan, said to hold Muhammad's cloak.

All the relics could be said to be of dubious origin, and many Muslims often dismiss them as not being authentic.

Muhammad is buried in Masjid-al-Nabi, the Prophet's Mosque, in Medina, in what is now Saudi Arabia [8]. The Saudi government adheres to the Wahabi or Salafi sect of Sunni Islam, and discourages veneration of relics and graves, as do the majority of scholars of the Sunni schools of thought. The Masjid-al-Nabi is said to have been extensively "modernized" by the Saudis, who removed many traces of the piety of previous ages.

[edit] Visual representation

Main article: Depictions of Muhammad

While most of Islam was predominantly aniconistic during most of its history, there are rich traditions of visual representation of the Prophet, mainly in the form of paintings and illustrations in religious or hagiographical texts. The Prophet is never depicted visually by any Muslim. If any other religious figure is depicted, their face is never shown and often they are shown with their head veiled in sheets embroided with Qur'anic text - yet any representation of even the human figure is forbidden, especially in Sunni Islam. representations of any religious figure is condemned in Islam; all Sunni branches adhere to this rule, whereas Shi'as do not have such a strict rule of this, as shown by many images of their imams, including Ali. Visual depictions are forbidden because this can distort information about the person, and they are thought to be unnecessary since the focus should be on the message the person carried rather than what their face looked like.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Sinlessness of the Prophets in Light of the Qur'an, by R. Azzam, USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts, March 27, 2000, retrieved March 27, 2006
  2. ^ Are Prophets of Allah not Sinless?, by Ali A. Khalfan, May 07, 2005, retrieved March 27, 2006
  3. ^ Are Prophets of Allah not Sinless?, by Ali A. Khalfan, May 07, 2005, retrieved March 27, 2006
  4. ^ http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-251805
  5. ^ a b c d Sahih Bukhari [1]

also:

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