Arguments for Messengership – Part 27

The Reasonings (page 130 continuation)-

“Considering these four important general rules, we can look at the personality, conduct, and works of the Prophet upon him be peace and blessings.  As confirmed and admitted even by his enemies, the most admirable, praiseworthy qualities and virtues combined in this person and formed such a character that, in accordance with the rule that repulsive and contradicting elements do not like to be together, as the angels of heaven do not like to be together with the devils of the earth, so too the character of the Prophet formed of the most sublime qualities such as honesty, trustworthiness, and honor, never stooped to lying or deceiving.  Rather, he absolutely swerved away from such behavior.  The spirit of this character, from which it derives its life, is absolute truthfulness; Prophet Muhammad always spoke and acted truly.  Like an ever-shining light, this proves his Prophethood.

A Reminder

O brothers and sisters!  Do you think that if a man is renowned only for his courage, he will not stoop easily to lying so as not to taint the honor his courage has gained him?  So, how can one who controlled all sublime qualities in his person stoop to lying?

An Indication and a Reminder

We see today that the space between truth and falsehood is no greater than the space between two fingers.  Both are sold in the same market.  However, the space between truth and lies was not greater in any period of history than in the Age of Happiness, the age of Prophethood, upon him be peace and blessings.  Truth displayed its beauty to the greatest degree in that age and caused Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, who had this characteristic to the greatest extent, to rise to the highest point of honor.  Truth realized the greatest revolution of history through him and opened the space between it and lies and falsehood to be as great as the extent between the farthest east and the farthest west.  It was the most precious thing and enjoyed the greatest demand.  On the other hand, being something, which reduces even the greatest enterprises to a corpse, lying was exhibited in all its ugliness and cast people like Musaylima the Liar to the lowest of the low.  Being a poison, it lost its share in the market and among the Muslims.”

The author is not talking about the Prophet’s truthfulness in his behavior, more so, the Prophet’s truthfulness to his nature.  He never spoiled it.

Comment: Did the Prophet ask for forgiveness?

Everyone’s view of forgiveness is at their level of understanding.  Potentiality is given to us to know the Absolute qualities of the Creator which is unlimited.  I must develop them, there is no end to this.  Our understanding of forgiveness is very shallow and limited.  My understanding of forgiveness is at the level of myself i.e. my position.  The Prophet was always truthful in his life and no one can show that he was not like a baby.  He was consistent in delivering the message.  As a messenger delivering the message to people, trying to represent the message as much as his capacity allowed him to, without contradicting himself, he was consistent.  He must know that he is not using his potentiality fully.  “I am not fully functioning”.  There is a gap between our potentiality and ability, how are we developing the potentiality?

• If I am not developing my potentiality into abilities, then I am always behind.

His understanding of forgiveness was different than ours.  “I am not making myself perfect, my God is guiding me from falling into mistakes”.  I am not perfect.  He was not modest but honest.

There is a famous saying along the lines: “The last judgment belongs to God.”  What do you understand from this?  Everyone will have a different understanding based on their capacity.  Any interpretation is subject to supporting and justifying one’s own inclination or a side that they take.  That is how the reality is, to interpret things to justify yourself.  Example: If you are trying to be just, then being ‘just” depends on your own interpretation of it according to your own criteria.

• Some people may take the Prophet’s teachings/narration to support their tendencies.

After the death of the Prophets, the companions who continued passing on the Quranic teachings would tell their contemporaries that during the Prophetic times, they used to think that diversion from our human nature is a big sin, while the contemporaries think that it is a minor mistake.

• Not acting according to my innate disposition (fitraa) depends on my understanding of what I am, my reality. Example: if I am not stealing or doing the major known sins, then I do not repent.  That is the general public’s attitude.

Ask for forgiveness for not using your potentiality.  According to my standards, the Prophet had nothing to ask for forgiveness.  According to his standards, he had every reason to ask for forgiveness every moment.  We should not judge the behavior of certain people according to my personal criteria. 

We need to check ourselves.  We are stealing the right of the Creator and not repenting.  “I am not appreciating creation as it narrates the message to me”.  Do I feel guilty?  My understanding of telling a lie is so shallow that I am telling a lie according to the feelings in my heart.  I do not acknowledge the Creator according to the capacity of my potentiality.  I do not want to see it.

• Ask yourself: Am I utilizing my life according to the purpose of its existence?

Human beings cannot tell a lie about their real personality.  They may pretend temporarily but not permanently until they die.  Human beings, in general cannot keep the consistency.  How can you keep the consistency if it is not genuine truthfulness throughout your life from beginning to end?  We all know from our nature potentially that we should not steal and tell a lie and behave in a hypocrite way.

The Prophet is known for keeping up the consistency with the message.  Is the Prophet making up what he says?  According to their capacity, no one can and in his time did say that the Prophet lied once (he kept his fitraa pure)

Things act as they are created.  Only human beings contradict themselves.  We may practice freewill against the way we are created for.  We may spoil our character.  We may not be able to keep the consistency in our existence.

• We are given the sense that we should not tell a lie, keep our honor/human dignity and be honest. But we do not keep it.  It is difficult for human beings to check themselves.

Everything exalts the qualities of its Creator.  No one can challenge the fundamental message of the Quran.  People who are not happy with how religion of Islam is presented do not argue about the fundamental teachings of the Quran.  They do not even study it, they just look at the general Muslim population’s situation and their practice.

The general Muslim population do not really practice the teachings of the Quran, not only because they do not know it, but they are involved in worldly affairs.  Unfortunately, the Muslim communities fail to represent the message of the Quran.  As a result, the Quranic message never gets delivered to the seekers as it should without contradicting their true interests.

Interest clash is in the outcome of belief system, it is not in the belief system itself.  The reason for Christianity to be attractive is that it does not meddle with people’s lives.  The nobles of the society keep up with their positions and employ slaves to work.  If consumerism is eradicated by the intervention of the belief system of Islam, then the power of the elites will finish.