Prophet Muhammad: the system changer
The life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the role model and guidance for all of us in every aspect of our lives. I really feel wordless to describe even a few aspects of this Best among the best Creation on this earth. Quoting the words of Michael Heart (the author of THE HUNDRED) “He was the only person who was supremely successful on both religious as well as secular grounds”, He (SAW) was the only person to whom even his ideological enemies were also fond of. Authors have written thousands of books and manuscripts to praise His (SAW) every account of life. What I have decided to touch from the leaf of His (SAW) life is ‘Prophet (SAW) as System changer.
The think tank of our society continuously tells us that our political system is in need of change for honest leaders we can trust. Sociologists see that our social system also requires change. Social relations are in peril, calling for intensive care. There can be no security or unity in society if its members are guarded of one another. Developing trust is a real challenge in these times. People are afraid of being deceived. In order to change this condition let’s have a look how Prophet (SAW) bring the real change.
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) does change the system, the system of oppression and jahiliyaah. The major changes that the Prophet introduced were made in Makkah, the mother of all cities. Therefore, it can be argued that change was made in a place where Muslims were a minority. It was not applied by force. When they were still in Makkah, Muslims had not been yet ordered to defend themselves. The right to self-defense was ordained only after they migrated to Medina. In Makkah, Muslims’ duty was: Withhold your hands and establish worship (An-Nisaa’ 4:77).
Prophet Muhammad (SAW) challenged the establishment of his time. Ruling elites – like today’s – attempted to coup d’état the person who wanted to change the system of exploitation; the system of nepotism; the system of corruption. He was offered all the wealth of his home town Makkah – a thriving city like Dubai or Hong Kong in terms of trade volumes. He refused. He was threatened and persecuted for 13 long years. He migrated empty-handed, in the dead of night! Declining a ‘lucrative deal’ was possible only due to his strong belief in accountability on the Day of Resurrection.
The Prophet’s (SAW) approach was the flexible change, i.e., He (SAW) focused on the major things and did not pay attention to the minor details in the beginning . This is because customs differ from one place to another, and the Message of Islam is not meant to be only for the people of Makkah. It is a universal Message for all people and jinn everywhere. Change was not applied overnight. It took the Prophet 13 years to make a difference in his people. The Prophet (SAW) was ordered to apply a gradual change on certain issues. For example, prohibiting alcohol went through three stages, and it was finally prohibited in the eighth year of the Prophet’s Hijrah. Usury was prohibited in the ninth year of Hijrah. Rulings governing inheritance were legislated in the third year of Hegira. The family system was completely formulated and applied in the seventh year of Hijrah.
In order for change to have an impact on people, the Prophet started with his own family, then he addressed the people of Makkah and surrounding areas, until his Message expanded to reach the whole world. We read in the Qur’an the following verses: And warn your tribe of near kindred (Ash-Shu`araa’ 26:214), ‘That you may warn the Mother of Villages (i.e., Makkah) and those around it’ (Al-An`am 6: 92), and ‘We sent you only as a mercy for the worlds’ (Al-Anbiyaa’ 21:107).
After the Prophet gained more people to his side, he started to preach his Message openly. This move was a pivotal change in the Islamic history. Allah ordered the Prophet as follows: ‘Proclaim that which you are commanded, and withdraw from the idolaters’ (Al-Hijr 15:94). The people of Qurayshhis an open declaration of opposition to their beliefs and customs. Therefore, they did every possible effort to stop him. The Prophet held several meetings with the people of Makkah to tell them about the new way of life he came with. They did not listen to him and abused him. They used his uncle Abu Talib as a mediator to convince him to give up his ideas. But he told his uncle that he will convey his Message till his last breath.
If we read the historical resources carefully, we will notice that the first people to support the Prophet were young men. For example, the Prophet’s cousin `Ali Ibn Abu Talib was a child. The list of supporters includes Az-Zubayr Ibn Al-`Awwam (who was 15 years old); Sa`d Ibn Abu Waqqas (17); Mus`ab Ibn `Umayr, Suhayb Ar-Rumi, and `Ammar Ibn Yasir (who were all in their 20s); Bilal Ibn Rabah (who was in his 30s), and `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (28).
When Muslims were put to torture and persecution, the Prophet responded to this by continuing preaching through peaceful means. He used to pray at the Kaaba and surrounding areas. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq supported the move, and he himself performed prayers at the Sacred Mosque and talked to people after each prayer, but he was beaten.
In face of injustice, the Prophet was allowed to ally with those who did not drive Muslims away from their houses. We read in the Qur’an: As for such [of the unbelievers] who do not fight against you on account of [your] faith, and neither drive you away from your homelands, Allah does not forbid you to show them kindness and to behave toward them with full equity; verily, Allah loves those who act equitably (Al-Mumtahanah 60:8). Therefore, there is no harm in forming alliances with those who do not share our faith, to fight corruption and oppression.
The wave of change initiated by the Prophet was supported by women, who are an integral part of society. The Prophet’s beloved wife Lady Khadijah supported the cause of Islam with her money. She cared for the Prophet and his Mission. The first martyr in Islam was Sumayyah Bint Al-Khayyat, the mother of `Ammar Ibn Yasir. Muslim women participated in the first and second Migrations to Abyssinia. Women also participated in the Second Pledge of Al-`Aqabah. Half of the slaves who were tortured in Makkah were women.
Finally, the Prophet showed his followers the best course of change: “He among you who sees something abominable should modify it with the help of his hand; and if he has not strength enough to do it, then he should do it with his tongue; and if he has not strength enough to do it, (even) then he should (abhor it) by his heart; and that is the least of faith” (Muslim). Hadith commentators maintain that changing with the help of the hand is left to the ruler or people who have legal authority to change. Changing with the tongue is to express your objection to any injustice or oppression in society. The hadith is a call for everybody not to be selfish and to be an active member of society by commanding good and forbidding evil.
Today when a large number of people is busy in celebrating the birthday of Prophet (SAW) a question may be asked, how many among them are really trying to change the system of Kufr and Modern Jahiliyah?
(Dr. Khalid Ul Rehman Hakeem is from Kashmir and teaches at a university in Malaysia)
