LESSON 01 P1 --- Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW)

Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) The Greatest Reformer
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A reformer is the one who brings about reforms in a society. Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) was not only a preacher of religion but also the greatest reformer of the world. Without him, the world would not have been improved. He (SAWW) was sent to reform the whole of the mankind. When he started preaching God’s message, the idol worshippers of Arabia became civilized people.

.Before the advent of Islam, there were very few people who could read or write. He advised the Muslims to get themselves educated and increase their knowledge. He made education compulsory not only for men but also for women. They set themselves to acquire knowledge as a religious obligation. He took steps to promote literacy and love of learning. In the battle of Badr, the Muslims caught some enemies as prisoners of war. Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) asked the educated non Muslim prisoners to teach the children of the Muslims to read and write. On this condition they would get freedom. It shows his love for education and learning.

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Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) disliked arrogance and pride. He said that an Arab was nor superior to a non-Arab or a white to a black. He believed that all were the sons of Adam. No one was superior to another on the basis of caste, colour or creed. For him, the standard of superiority was piety. He united the scattered tribes and nation who felt pride in serving the humanity. Brotherhood became the way of their life.

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It was due to his teachings that the slaves also attained equal rights. They flourished in every walk of life without any discrimination. A cousin of Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW), whose name was Hazrat Zainab (RA) was married to a freed slave Zaid bin Harris (RA). Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) was a slave and Hazrat Imam Hussain Basri (RA) was the son of a slave. Both of them were men of dignity.

Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) was against the earning of money without efforts. He was against the exploitation of the poor by the rich. Therefore, he took radical steps to eradicate usury. He was also strictly against bribery. Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (R.A.) said that he was not allowed to boast of his wealth and status. It was because these things might create the symptoms of pride and arrogance.

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Before the advent of Islam, women were created in a very inhumane manner. Most of the girls were burnt or buried alive in their childhood. Islam emphasized the equality of rights of men and women. Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) gave women the right of inheritance in property and wealth.

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Before Islam, the Arabs used force to settle their disputes. Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW) introduced judicial procedure t o check cruelty and injustice. Judges were appointed to settle the individual or party manners. In short, laws were made for the promotion of an ideal family and social set up. For the first time in history, the savage Arabs were introduced to the rules of politeness and civilized manners.

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It were these reforms, which brought an Islamic revolution in the life of the Arabs. These reforms laid the foundation of a new nation and a new Islamic society, which was tolerance spirit and humane by heart.