7 Things About Prophet Muhammad: A Clarification

ARCHIVES 2013

By admin-s On Feb 6, 2013

Islam is a religion which forbids compulsion. Islam is not a political ideology or sovereign nation that demands absolute loyalty. What religion on Earth did not divide into sects over dogmatic disagreements after its founder’s demise?

Qasim Rashid (Huffington Post)

In her recent piece, “7 Things That May Surprise You About Muhammad,” author Lesley Hazleton offers unique insights into Prophet Muhammad’s life. Giving credit where it is due, I’ve enjoyed Hazleton’s TED talk on Prophet Muhammad, and many of her writings on Islam. In fairness, however, several of her “7 Things” are incorrect. This article mentions and clarifies these matters.

1. He was born an orphan.

Hazleton accurately summarizes Prophet Muhammad’s early years but perhaps it is semantically more accurate to say “he was orphaned as a young child.” The foster mother who cared for him as an infant and young child was a woman named Haleema. Prophet Muhammad loved her dearly.

2. He married up — and for love.

Hazleton accurately summarizes Prophet Muhammad’s marriage to Hazrat Khadija, but I offer two minor matters of clarification.

First, while Hazleton is correct that the marriages were “a means of diplomatic alliance,” Prophet Muhammad was in fact married 11 times, not nine times, after Khadija’s death.

Second, Hazleton writes that Muhammad had “[no children] with any of his later wives.” Perhaps she meant to say “no children who lived to adulthood” as Prophet Muhammad in fact had at least 11 children with his later wives, each of whom died in infancy or when only a few years old.

3. His first reaction to becoming a Prophet? Doubt and despair.

Hazleton accurately states Prophet Muhammad’s fear upon the Angel Gabriel’s appearance to him. Imam Bukhari records Prophet Muhammad’s initial reaction.

Allah’s Apostle returned with the Inspiration, his neck muscles twitching with terror till he entered upon Khadija and said, ‘Cover me! Cover me!’ They covered him till his fear was over and then he said, ‘O Khadija, what is wrong with me?’ Then he told her everything that had happened and said, ‘I fear that something may happen to me.’ Khadija said, ‘Never! But have the glad tidings, for by Allah, Allah will never disgrace you as you keep good relations with your Kith and kin, speak the truth, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guest generously and assist the deserving, calamity-afflicted ones.’ [1]

Khadija then took Prophet Muhammad to her cousin, Waraqa ibn Nawfal, a Christian Nazarene priest and Biblical scholar. Waraqa further reassured Prophet Muhammad not to fear, but recognized that he experienced precisely what past true Prophets of God experienced. He declared to Prophet Muhammad:

This is the same angel who appeared in times long past to Moses. Would that I might still be alive when you will be turned out of your native city. I could then help you to my heart’s content.’ Prophet Muhammad responded, ‘Shall I be banished from my native city?’ Waraqa replied, ‘Any man who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly. [2]

Sadly, Waraqa bin Nawfal died shortly thereafter, but his predictions and recognition of Muhammad’s truth were fulfilled in their entirety.

4. He led an early form of Occupy Wall Street.

Hazleton inaccurately compares the Occupy Movement and Prophet Muhammad’s propagation of Islam. The two are substantively opposites.

For example, despite facing immense social, economic, and civil injustices Prophet Muhammad wholly forbade causing any form of public disorder or interruption. He did not form any public protests, marches, or resistance movements. No “Occupy Mecca” or “Occupy Kaba” existed. Instead, he preached quietly among family and friends during the first three years of his ministry.

When active persecution began, Prophet Muhammad ordered his companions to worship privately in their homes as to avoid public disorder as much as possible. When persecution intensified, he ordered his followers to migrate to Abyssinia (modern day Ethiopia) and seek refuge under the righteous Christian King Negus. When persecution yet further intensified, he and his companions were boycotted and exiled from Mecca for a near three year period. They lived in a barren valley on the brink of starvation. Even during this intense period of suffering he forbade any form of public protest and disruption. Finally, when persecution reached its climax, he still forbade any form of public protest, and migrated with his companions secretly and peacefully to Medina — some 240 miles away — all to preserve peace and avoid public disorder.

Yes, Prophet Muhammad protested social and economic inequality, but not by any comparison to the Occupy Movement. Rather, it was through prayers, patience, and private preaching for peace.

5. He was a pacifist — at first.

Hazleton mischaracterizes Prophet Muhammad’s decisions on when to, and when not to, fight. Dictionary.com defines a pacifist as one who “is opposed to war or violence of any kind.”

Though he loathed violence, Prophet Muhammad openly and repeatedly declared his willingness to take up arms to defend his Jewish allies in the Charter of Medina, defend all Christians in his letter to St. Catherine’s Monastery, and to follow the Qur’anic commandment to defend all “Synagogues, Churches, Temples, and Mosques” from “being torn down.” (22:41) That is, Muhammad considered fighting a last resort but would employ force if it meant defending universal religious freedom. This does not make him a pacifist “at first” or ever, but instead demonstrates his logical rationale, practicality, and recognition that at times, force is needed to ensure self-defense and universal freedom of conscience.