Muhammad Ibn Abdullah صلى الله عليه و سلم

Salam 3lykm

I was going through my essays written last semester, and I found one which I wanted to share, especially with all the non-Muslims out there. The media has created a major misconception in the minds of everyone, especially those who know very little about Islam. They have painted Islam as a blood-thirsty, merciless religion, and Muslims as aggressive, violent barbarians. It is for that very reason that I would like to share this essay, to dispel all misconceptions that the media has succeeded to instill in people's hearts and minds.

The original question had three or four topics, one of which was to write about a great act of devotion. It was written in class, 'under pressure', and I'm not the kind to write 'on demand', lol..so please excuse and forgive my shortcomings. =$

Nations worldwide have sung songs of praise in their native languages, all of which still fail to do justice to this noble Prophet, sent for the guidance of all Mankind. Countless people have written poems, but their pens have failed to elaborate on the greatness of this humble Servant of Allah. Muhammad Ibn Abdullah - not a single page would be left free of his attributes, yet they would remain undefined. A man of such magnificent character, that his wife, Aisha - May Allah be pleased with her - is reported to have said: "His morals are the Holy Quran."

Orphaned at birth, and a mere shepherd in his youth, Muhammad - May the Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon him - had no share in the wealth of his family, despite the fact that the tribe he belonged to, was one of the wealthiest and most influential Arabian tribes at the time. It was only after marrying a woman of great status in society, and reviving her dwindling business, did wealth come in his hands. Khadeejah Bint Khuwaylid - May Allah be pleased with her - was the only woman who bore him children, and she was the only one who supported him when he was in dire need.

As the burden of Prophethood was laid down on his withstanding shoulders, those that had once sung sweet praises in his face, began to leave his side. One by one, they all turned against him, in hope that he would stop propagating his True Cause. However, even that left him undeterred. His devotion to his Lord was to the extent that he was content with what had been decreed for him. He did not turn back to Pagan idol worship, in spite of the endless, hurtful mockery he was dealt at their hands; instead, he restlessly propagated the True Word worldwide, sending delegations to places that were far away from where he resided.

He fought against only those infidels who threatened to eradicate Muslims from the world; however, it is still unfairly said that, 'Islam was spread by the Sword'...

What sword was it that earned the great devotion of brave warriors like Umar Bin Al-Khattab and Khalid Bin Al-Waleed - may Allah be pleased with them? Both once staunch enemies of Islam, they craved to shed EVERY SINGLE DROP of blood in the cause of Allah upon embracing Islam, solely to raise the Banner of the Testimony of Faith high in the skies.

What sword was it that forced the likes of Bilal - May Allah be pleased with him - to endure the cruel torture at the hands of the infidels? What sword lured boys at the tender ages of thirteen years and younger - the likes of Abdullah Ibn Abbas & Ibn Mas'ood (may Allah be pleased with them both) and Imam Bukhari & Muslim (may Allah have Mercy on them) - to become great scholars in Islam? Which sword was it that compelled boys at ages as young as fifteen and sixteen, to kill the greatest enemy of Islam, and the cruel uncle of the Beloved, Muhammad - may the Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon him: Abu Jahl?

It might have been a sword, but definitely not the one that you and I commonly know of. It was the double-edged sword; it was the Words of Truth that flowed eloquently from the Blessed tongue of Muhammad Ibn Abdullah - May the Peace & Blessings of Allah be upon him - which moved hearts of stone, and sprung forth tears from once-dry eyes.

It was his utmost devotion and love for his Lord, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth...it was acts of courage, the likes of which were displayed when his own people drove him out of Taif, heels bloodied and body wounded by the heartless, malicious people whose fate had been sealed...it was his alluring character that set an example for all those to come until the Last Day. Such devotion he had, that he refused to curse the people, in hope that a few may pay heed to the Words of Truth.

It is this intense sense of devotion to his cause that had him repeating, "My Nation, My Nation!", even as he endured the hardship of the throes of death. Can there ever be any other acts of devotion or courage greater than those exhibited during the lifetime of this Noble Man of Quraysh?