Muhammad (SAW): The Preacher of peace (III)

Orders unity in faith: peace and progressSome of the early warning signals of conflict and violence are disagreement and factions. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) taught his followers not to engage in any unnecessary argument.  He (S.A.W) said, “I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the […]

Orders unity in faith: peace and progress
Some of the early warning signals of conflict and violence are disagreement and factions. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) taught his followers not to engage in any unnecessary argument.  He (S.A.W) said, “I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners (Abu Dawud).
The Glorious Qur’an charges followers of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) to “obey Allah and His Apostle; and fall into no disputes, lest ye lose heart and your power depart; and be patient and persevering: For Allah is with those who patiently persevere.” (Qur’an 8: 46).
“And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love,” (Qur’an 3: 103).
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) has likened the ummah to the human body where when one of its parts is in agony the entire body feels the pain both in sleeplessness and fever (Buhari and Muslim).
Recommends patience and forgiveness
The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) does not want his followers to be aggressive and violent. He charges them not get angry and asks them to persevere and be patient whatever wrong done to them. In a hadith reported by Abu Sa’id Al-Khudari, he said patience is the most cherished endowment a man can have (Bukhari and Muslim). No wonder, his counsel to a man demanding for advise was “do not get angry” as narrated by Abu Hurairah (Buhari and Muslim).
“Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better: then will he between whom and thee was hatred become as it were thy friend and intimate. And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self-restraint, – none but persons of the greatest good fortune” (Qur’an 41:34 – 35).
Sahl bim Mu’adh bin Anas Al-Juhani narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever suppresses his rage while he is able to unleash it, Allah will call him before the heads (leaders) of creation on the Day of Judgement, so that he can inform Him which of the Hur he would like” (Abu Dawud).
Orders justice, negotiation and reconciliation
Peace and harmony can be maintained through the administration of justice and fair play. In Qur’an 4:135 Allah says: “O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to God, even as against yourselves, or your parents or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: For God can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily God is well-acquainted with all that ye do”.
“O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as witnesses to fair dealing and let no the hatred of others to you make you swerve to the wrong and depart from justice. Be just: this is next to Piety: and fear Allah for Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do” (Q5:8).
Muslims are commended to be just in their utterances even while dealing with nearest relatives (Q6:152).
The teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) emphasised the imperatives of negotiation (Qur’an 4:35, 4:114), consultations (Qur’an 3: 159, 42:38) and reconciliation (Qur’an 49:9-10) as veritable ingredients for sustaining a peaceful society.
Commands respect to elders and authority
In a bid not to jeopardise the established peace and security, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was emphatic on the imperative of respecting constituted authorities. In Islam respect should be accorded to elders. It is an axiom among the Muslims that “he is not of us who neither respects elders nor merciful to the younger ones”.
O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best and most suitable for final determination” (Qur’an 4:59).
Abdullahi Ibn Mas’ud (R.A) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) prophesised the coming of tyrant, unjust and selfish rulers. The companions sought for his recommendation against those rulers that were to come. He (S.A.W) did not ask them to stage riots, protests, demonstration or make move for any impeachment. He (S.A.W) says “render your responsibilities and pray to Allah on what should be yours” (Buhari and Muslim). In the hadith reported by Abu Yahya Usaid bn Hudayr, the Prophet (S.A.W) asked them to exercise patience when they have such leaders until they meet him at Haud on the Day of Judgment.
Peace, peace and peace
The message of Islam is peace. The teaching of Islam is peace. The greeting of Muslims on meeting is peace. The parting greeting among Muslims is peace. The principles and practice of Islam is to attain peace. The last saying in the five daily prayers is peace. The ultimate goal of Muslims is the dwelling in the abode of peace. O Allah! Thou art Peace, and peace comes from Thee; let us live in peace and grant us abode of peace, blessed art Thou, O Possessor of glory and honour. Peace be unto you.
 Assalamu alaikum.

Gwandu can be reached via: [email protected]