Khutbah:

Prophet Muhammad's impact  on history.

by Sheikh Goesain Kriel

Jamatul Muslimeen, the past month, being the month Rabi Al Awwal, we have been concentrating on the status, life and mission of Nabi Muhammad (SAW).  Today’s khutbah will talk about the impact of the prophet’s message on the history of humanity in general.  In spite of his tremendous role and influence, we find that most people then and now, did not and still do not appreciate his role and impact.

 It was indeed a great mercy and blessing from Allah (SWT) to have sent Nabi Muhammad (SAW) in the year 571 AD.  At that time in history, the state of religion, society, politics and morality was indeed pathetic!

 These few people who still clung to the moral and religious teachings of the previous prophets had by then either shut themselves up in monasteries or had gone into the wilderness.  By the year 571, the forces of truth, justice, morality, decency and spirituality had lost the battle against falsehood, injustice, immorality, indecency, corruption, oppression and materialism.

 Allah SWT describes this period in the Holy Qur’an:

 “Corruption (mischief, oppression, exploitation, disintegration) had appeared on land and sea (because) of the evil which men’s hands have done, so that he (Allah) may make them taste some of their deeds, in order that they may turn back (from evil)”. [S.30:v41]

 At that time, the Roman and Persian empires were the two superpowers in the world.  The Romans worshipped many gods while the official religion of the Persians was fire-worshipping.  In addition, these two civilisations were morally corrupt and their populations wallowed in the vices of their corruption and decaying civilisations.

 By the 6^th century, the teachings of Nabi Musa were narrowed down to a tribalistic doctrine and its followers claimed to be the only chosen people of Allah.

 By this time, the followers of Nabi Isa (AS) had made him a ‘son of God’ and the original teachings of Nabi Isa were limited to the barest outlines.

By this time, the very Ka’bah in Makkah, which was raised by Nabi Ibrahim (AS) exclusively for the worship of Allah, was infested by all sorts of idols that people worshipped.  Shirk of the worst kind was practiced inside, outside, around and on top of the Ka’bah itself!

 Allah tells us:

 “Travel through the earth and see what was the end of those people before you: most of them were idol-worshippers.” (30/42).

 It was therefore in such a godless atmosphere that Allah (SWT) in his infinite mercy and wisdom decided to intervene and once again give mankind another chance to reform and come to their senses.  In so in the year 571 AD, the last and final prophet of Allah to mankind was born.  His mission was to teach, guide and lead mankind out of the darkness of superstition and kufr into the light of knowledge and Eemaan.

 As Allah confirms in the Qur’an:

 “A, L, R (Alif, Lam, Ra), (This is a book) which we have revealed unto you, so that you may lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into the light – by permission of their lord – to the way of him, the might, the praised.” (14/1) 

And so, Jamatul Muslimeen, with the teachings of the Qur’an and his own excellent example and perfect personality, Nabi Muhammad (SAW) set about with his mission of reforming society and bringing hope from despair.

 Allah tells Nabi Muhammad (SAW) to say to mankind:

 “Say: Oh my slaves who have transgressed against their own souls!  Do not despair of the mercy of Allah… Verily, Allah will forgive all sins… Verily, he is the forgiving, the merciful.” [s39:v53]

 And so, Jamatul Muslimeen, Rasulullah (SAW) started to call people towards the Tawheed of Allah.  He did so with complete Eemaan and conviction.  He called to this deen of love, brotherhood, compassion, justice, equality, dignity, honour, hope, tolerance and mercy.

 As we know, in the process of Da’wah Ilallah, we had to face tremendous hardships, opposition, persecutions and insults, because people were reluctant to give up their positions of power and influence and vested interests.

 They made all sorts of silly excuses.  Allah tells us in the Holy Qur’an:

 “And they say: what sort of a messenger is this, who eats food and walks in the markets?  Why has not an angel been sent down to him to be a warner with him? (25/7)

 But Allah answers then and says:

 “And the messengers whom we had sent before you (O Muhammad), were people who ate food and walked through the markets.” (25/20).

 But Allah preferred to send human beings like ourselves and not angels.  Angels are different in nature.  Only a human being can best understand, share and communicate with other humans.  However, in spite of tremendous opposition, the prophet  of Islam transformed his society.

 Examples:

1. Arabs gave up wine, gambling, and raised the status of women.
2. Eemaan gave Muslims dignity, confidence in themselves – Slaves were freed.
3. Love and brotherhood in society – racism was abolished, former slaves became rulers.
4. Former enemies were transformed into the bravest defenders and champions of the deen. Eg. Khalid Bin Walid.
5. Amr Ibn Al As – went to Abyssinia to demand the return of the Muslims to Makkah.  As a Muslim, he opened up Egypt and the whole of north Africa for Islam.
6. Many people laid down their lives for the prophet and Islam.

 Approximately 100 years after the death of the prophet SAW, the Nur of Islam stretched from Andalusia (Spain) in the West, across north Africa, Arabia, Iran, Bukhara, India up to the borders of China in the far east!  That was the success of the prophet’s (SAW) mission.

 Today the worlds is once again steeped in immorality, shirk, corruption and fasaad.  The old idols are now replaced by new icons such as money, pop-stars, sports-stars, etc.  and the temples are where they are worshipped are the vast stadiums and gambling complexes.  Very little time is left for the worship of Allah – the real benefactor of mankind.   

We know that the Nabi Muhammad (SAW) is not with us anymore, but he has left for us the Qur’an and his Sunnah.  It is for us to study it and practice upon it and it will be enough for our success in dunya and akhira insha’Allah.

 Jamatul Muslimeen, in conclusion, let us remember these beautiful words of advice from Nabi Muhammad (SAW):

 “…verily, the best speech is the book of Allah, and the best guidance is that of Muhammad (SAW)) and the worst affairs are innovations in deen – and all innovations in deen are misleading.” (Muslim)