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Category: Religion - Islam
Forum Name: Prophets Muhammad
Forum Description: Prophets Muhammad
URL: https://www.islamicity.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5667 Printed Date: 16 February 2025 at 5:15am Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: The Ethical Standard of the ProphetPosted By: Knowledge01
Subject: The Ethical Standard of the Prophet
Date Posted: 30 June 2006 at 5:24pm
The Ethical Standard of the Prophet Muhammad By Imam Zaid Shakir
http://www.zaytuna.org/articles/Ethical_Prophet.pdf - (Click here to download a print-friendly PDF of this article)
The ongoing �Cartoon Crisis� raises several issues. One of the most important is the incumbency of seeing the ongoing crisis as an opportunity to educate people in the West about our blessed Prophet, . Along those lines, one of the greatest things we can do is teach about the exalted ethical standard introduced by our Prophet, . That ethical standard is the bedrock of his mission and message.
In an age of instantaneous communications and globalized media it is important for Muslims to reaffirm our commitment to the prophetic ethical ideal. Under prevailing conditions, the sensationalized excesses of some Muslims, excesses that contradict the ethical teachings of our Prophet, , are often used to distort the perception of Islam in the West. That distortion in turn helps to create prejudiced attitudes towards Islam and Muslims.
I would argue that the images that insinuate a connection between our Prophet, , and terrorism are more informed by the hijackings, kidnappings, beheadings, and cold-blooded murder of unsuspecting civilians, all of which characterize many of our recent political struggles, than to any inherent biases or prejudices among the people of Europe and America. If we Muslims are going to contribute to changing how Islam and our Prophet, , are viewed in the West, we are going to have to change what we ourselves are doing to contribute to the caricaturing of Islam. That change can only be affected by sound knowledge coupled with exalted practice, and reviving the lofty ethical ideal of our beloved Prophet, .
Relevant Ethical Teachings from the Qur�an
You will surely be tested in your wealth and your lives. And you will hear from those given the scriptures before you and from the idolaters much abuse. If you patiently persevere, and remain mindful [of God], surely in this is a manifestation of firm resolve. Al-Qur�an 3:186
An examination of the ethical standard of the Prophet Muhammad, , relevant to the current crisis, must begin by looking at certain critical Qur�anic verses. We will begin by examining the above passage. This verse was preemptively revealed as consolation to the Prophet, , and his followers in anticipation of the abuse that would be heaped upon them from parties amongst the Jews, Christians, and idolaters. In the face of that abuse a course of action was prescribed. Namely, that they patiently endure those abuses and remain mindful of God in the face of the negative propaganda that would increase as their worldly power grew. The implication of that course of action is beautifully captured in the words of the great 18th Century Turkish scholar Imam Ismail al-Burusawi in his commentary of the Qur�an. He says, �God is going to treat you as one undergoing a test in order to show your mettle in persevering in the truth and righteous deeds.� http://www.zaytuna.org/articleDetails.asp?articleID=93#_edn1 - [1]