Muhammad (saws): A Role Model for a New Millennium


The human need for role models

Have you ever heard of Moses, Jesus, Confucius, Krishna or the Buddha? How
about Gandhi, Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King? If you live in the West,
there's a good chance that you know a bit about these people and their
accomplishments. In man's 
eternal search for immortality and meaning, many leaders and heroes, both true
and false, have made their appearance on the world stage. The respect and
reverence shown to such figures among people of every nationality, in every
age, points to a deep 
human need to believe in someone greater than oneself, in an attempt to
transcend the confines of one's own limited existence. We see this theme recur
in world myths, legends, hero stories, and in the idealisation of people who
have been raised by their 
followers to superhuman or godly status.
 
Most educated people today are sceptics,

and view such stories as the charming remnants of a simpler age. And with
globalisation and the steady stream of new religions and ideologies that
people are exposed to, it may be hard to know what to believe. Some find it
easier to ignore spiritual 
questions altogether, focusing instead on their relationships, careers and
'getting ahead'. Yet we know that excessive materialism stifles the mind and
spirit; despite technological advances, the deep yearning to believe in a
Higher Power, true 
leadership, and an ultimate purpose in life remains. In this day and age, who
can be trusted as a guide in both spiritual and worldly matters?
 
There is one leader,

still largely unknown to the West, who is an extraordinary role model that
people of all backgrounds can relate to: the Prophet Muhammad. The details of
Muhammad's remarkable life have been carefully preserved and have been
subjected to the scrutiny of 
historians, east and west. In contrast to others who have achieved renown for
their accomplishments in a limited sphere of activity, Muhammad's achievements
span all major areas of life. The historian Michael H. Hart wrote:
My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons
may surprise some readers and be questioned by others, but he was the only man
in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular
levels. Hart, Michael, 
The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History.
 
Why does the average European or American
 
know so little about a man whose life was so exceptional? Irrational fears and
negative propaganda, dating back to the Crusades and exaggerated by the media,
have created a 'mental block' for many people against all things Arab or
Islamic, and the two 
terms are often mistakenly confused. As we enter the age of the global
village, is it not time for those who pride themselves on being unprejudiced,
independent thinkers to put aside these mental relics from a bygone era? We
invite you to take a few 
minutes to explore a new understanding of religious leadership, and in so
doing, to catch a glimpse of a man who is loved by one-fifth of the people on
this planet.
 
The concept of Prophethood in Islam

For a Muslim, a Prophet does not primarily imply someone able to foretell the
future - although most of Muhammad's predictions have already been fulfilled
in astonishing ways - but a man sent by God to call people to repent, have
faith, and dedicate 
their lives to doing good, thereby helping them rediscover the purpose for
which they were created. Prophets are not considered to be Divine, and are not
prayed to or worshipped - though they were men of outstanding character and
spirituality who were 
protected from committing sins, performed miracles, received revelation and
communed with God. Islam teaches that God is One, without partner or
associate; no human being can share in any of the qualities that are unique to
the Intelligent Creator and 
Sustainer of our vast and complex universe. Muhammad was no more than God's
honoured servant and Messenger, yet he embodied the best of human potential,
and that is what continues to make him so appealing and accessible today. Last
in a line of Prophets 
and Messengers sent by God to all people on earth - including Noah, Abraham,
Moses and Jesus - who effected the large-scale transformation of individuals
and society, Muhammad was unsurpassed as teacher and guide. Speaking of his
own role as the last 
true Prophet before Judgement Day, he said:
'The parable of me in relation to the Prophets who came before me is that of a
man who built a house beautifully and well, except that one brick in its
corner was missing. The people went around it and wondered at its beauty, but
said: "If only that 
brick were put in its place!" I am that brick, and I am the last of the
Prophets.'
 
Muhammad's personal life
 
Muhammad was born in 570 AD to a noble family of Makkah, and was a descendant
of the Prophet Abraham. Orphaned at six, Muhammad was a thoughtful youth who
worked as a shepherd and helped his uncle with the trade caravans. As a
teenager he rejected the 
immoral customs of his people, who had become steeped in idolatry, and joined
a chivalrous order, earning the nickname 'The Trustworthy'. At age 25 he found
employment with a wealthy widow of 40 named Khadijah, managing her business.
Impressed by his 
honesty and character, Khadijah proposed marriage and he accepted. Despite
their age difference, they were happily married for 25 years, and were blessed
with six children. After Khadijah's death Muhammad married several women for
political and 
humanitarian reasons, as was expected of a man of his position; all but one
were widows and divorcees. He was a loving and considerate husband and father,
and his family was devoted to him despite his voluntary poverty, for he put
into practice his own 
advice, 'the best of you is the one who is best to his own family.'
 
Muhammad, the Prophet
 

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