Prophet Mohammed (S) is the most remembered Prophet in the world. His remembrance by believers is in response to the Order of the Lord of the Worlds to the believers. Allah said: “God and His Angels send blessings on the Prophet (S). O, ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect”. (33:56)
Allah and His Angels honour and bless the holy Prophet as the greatest of men. The believers are asked to honour and bless him all the more because he took upon himself to suffer the sorrows and afflictions of this life to guide us to God’s mercy and the highest inner life. The one who does not recite the words of blessings upon the Prophet (S) on hearing his name is like a miser. The Prophet (S) said: “The miser is the one in whose presence I am mentioned he does not send blessings upon me.”
Meanwhile, let me look through the childhood of the Prophet (S).
His father, Abdulla, died six months before his birth. When he was six years, his mother, Amina, also died. He was then looked after by his grandfather, Abdul Muthalib. But, he died after two years. The guardianship of the Prophet then went to the hands of his uncle, Abu Talib, under whom he lived for a long period.
In his early teens, the Prophet worked in a camel caravan. He worked for his uncle, and gained experience in commercial trade travelling to Syria. He earned a reputation as honest and sincere, and unanimously acquired the nick name “Al Ameen” which means “Faithful” or “Trustworthy”. His honesty, experience and honourable behaviour was heard of by Khadija, the esteemed and well-known businesswoman in and out of Mecca. On hearing about the Prophet’s integrity in business, honesty and strength of his character she liked to marry him. It was a turning point in the life of the Prophet (S). Her ambition was accomplished. He was then 25 years and Khadija was 40. It was during their marital life, he was raised to the Prophet-hood status. Since then, he started experiencing baneful and painful experiences of life from his own people.
Before, he was treated by his own people as the “apple of their eye”. The same people, after his Prophet-hood, felt him as dust in their eyes. They started hating and isolating him due to his preachings of Islamic monotheism against the polytheistic belief of Mecca pagans. They were all idol worshippers. The first and foremost message of all Prophets was to invite their people into the belief of monotheism or Thouheed and to abandon their belief of polytheism. Although the people of Mecca hated and harassed the Prophet (S) every step of his life, he did not feel disappointed. Allah sent him as a mercy to the worlds. Allah says: “And we have not sent thee but as a mercy to the worlds.”
The verse in question transmits a very wide meaning which extends beyond the living world in which both believers and disbelievers live. There is no question of race, or nation; or the seed of Abraham, or the seed of David, or of Hindu and the like, but it denotes “to all men and creatures”. Since the kindness and mercy of Islam travels out of all boundaries, naturally its Prophet (S) will also possess the same kindness and mercies towards all creatures. Countless examples could be quoted showing his mercy. Once his followers asked him to curse the people by whom they were greatly and continuously persecuted. He replied: “I have not been sent to lay a curse upon men but to be a blessing to them.” On another occasion he said: “I have been sent as a centre for clemency and as a mine for knowledge and as an abode for patience.” He also said: “The merciful enjoy the mercy of Allah. Have mercy on those on earth so that Allah the Almighty will have mercy upon you.”
There were several occasions when the Prophet (S) showed his clemency and kindness, the most important of which was shown against those pagans of Mecca, on the Day of the Conquest of Mecca. They were the ones who expelled the Prophet and his followers from their own dearest native land, Mecca. The Prophet, as a ruler of Mecca and Medina told them: “This is the kindness day. Go for you are free. Clemency is given when there is power to take revenge. No reproach shall be on you. May Allah forgive you.”