Celebrating The Prophet(pbuh)

A talk given by Yusuf Islam in Abu Dhabi, UAE on the 21st of April 2005.

The Gift of Islam’s Peace & Light; celebrating the Last of God’s Messengers Al Hamd; wa salawat - I thank those involved for the invitation to be at this blessed occasion. In a World where people are surrounded by darkness, ignorance and fear, it is a sign of hope to be celebrating Islam’s message of peace and light, and the last great Messenger, born and chosen to deliver them to all mankind. The main reason we are able to enjoy this gift is through the life and example of one man - the last of the Prophets - sent to guide humanity to the path of Paradise; a Mercy to all the Worlds, Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi was sallam. My view of Islam and Muhammad (saaws) before reading the Qur’an I was like many people in the West; blessed with immense material advancements, superb technology and highly evolved political systems, but brought up almost in a state of embarrassing poverty regarding knowledge and information about Islam. Images of

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Muslims as racial aliens, with strange religious customs, genies, magic carpets, moons and stars, war and bloodshed, the crusades, dominated my view - there was hardly anything presented to me which could be said to represent the Islam, until I actually discovered it when given an English translation of the Qur’an, back in 1976. Unifying Script of Humanity Under One God The very first lesson that I learnt from the Qur’an, was the message of unity and peace. This was not that dark, foreign religion which I had expected. First it was talking about belief in One God Lording over all people, creatures and events in this matchless Universe - talking about us as Adamic in nature; children of humanity from the same Parents, Adam and Eve, belonging to one family. The verses talked about other Prophets as brothers preaching the same unifying script of mankind, showing every man and woman the way to Paradise. I saw the names of Jesus, of Moses, of Abraham, of Jacob, of Noah and of course, crucially, the name of this last messenger, the last Messenger of God, Muhammad (peace be upon them). There was no division I could see between the essential teaching of all Prophets and wise men of religion. The Qur’an pointed to a universal statement that defined true faith and religion - it said: It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces toward East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him for your kin for orphans for the needy for the wayfarer for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient in pain and adversity and throughout all periods of crises. Such are the people of truth the God-conscious. (Quran 177:2) I discovered the word Islam meant entering into ‘peace’ with God and with all of His creation. Because there was no sign of racialism or separation between the Prophets, I knew that this book was truly a Revelation from the One God. From that moment I realised that there was nothing left for me to do but to be a Muslim - and that was what I did twenty eight years ago. After accepting Islam, my discovery of the Sunnah, the life-example of the Prophet One of the most amazing things after embracing Islam was to discover the unique life and story of the blessed Prophet (saaws) in explaining and showing the practical example of the words and teachings of the Glorious Qur’an, the Sunnah. In human history, there are thousands of men who have influenced the course of humanity; all have left their mark on the pages of time. Kings, warriors, philosophers,

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writers, poets…but how many passed without leaving any permanent record and image of their personality or example; how many have left us with such a perfect documentation of their sayings and conduct, which continues to contribute to the present and future well being of Mankind? This is why today, in Madinah, in Arabian peninsular where we are situated right now, we find an endless stream of humanity visiting and giving the salutations of peace and invoking God’s blessings on the messenger of Mercy, Muhammad al Mustafa, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam. From how he combed his hair to the way he walked, from details of his intimate moments with his family to the Prophet’s pronouncements and utterances related to the discourse between religions and nations, every moment of his Prophetic life and teachings have been scrupulously saved, committed to writing, and followed. The greatest legacy is that which benefits the widest number of people for the longest period without limit to value. No one but the Prophet Muhammad was given that role as the seal of God’s message? The Qur’an confirms: You have indeed, in the messenger of Allah, a beautiful pattern of (conduct) for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and who engages much in the remembrance of Allah. (Quran 21:33) One of the most important of his life and mission was the calling of humanity, to the unity of purpose of the universe. The fact that the Prophet cared for every human being and tried his best to ensure their security in the hereafter, must be the most telling of his compassionate and merciful characteristics. "Once Allah's Apostle said, "There is none who witnesses sincerely that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger, except that Allah, will save him from the Hell-fire." His companion, Mu'adh said, "O Messenger of God! Should I not inform the people about it so that they may have good news?" He replied, hesitatingly, "(Maybe) When the people hear about it, they may only depend on it." Bukhari (1:130). While Islam is projected today as inimical and hostile to Christianity, Judaism and other Religions, the truth is that the Prophet was the great educator, teaching people the meaning and explanation of their own Religion, correcting and assisting them in following the right path, as taught by previous Prophets and messengers. Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a word common between you and us that we shall not worship other than God or take as Lords other than Him. (Quran) Love and Mercy I end with a conclusion, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, taught for those who want to learn Islam, and benefit from the Mercy which the Prophet distributed to all people, he

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said, “You will not enter heaven until you believe; and you will not believe until you love one another. Should I not guide you to a thing that if you do it will increase love amongst you? Spread ‘As salam’ ” * Peace be with you * “You shall not enter paradise so long as you do not affirm belief; and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: give currency to as-salamu alaykum.” A saying for the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). Related by Abu Hurairah in Sahih Muslim

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