Gustau Weil's Tribute to Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Abu Juwairiya

Junior Member
While no amount (or of lack of) tributes of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) by Muslims and Non Muslims increase the status of the last Messenger of Allah. The description reproduced here from a Non Muslim is because it helps to summarise a good analysis of the Prophet (SAW).

'Muhammad (SAW) set a shining example of his people. His character was pure and stainless. His dress, his food, they were characterised by a rare simplicity. So unpretentious was he that he would receive from his companions no special mark of reverence, nor would he accept any service from his slave which he could do himself.

Often and often was he seen in the market purchasing provisions, often and often was he seen mending his clothes in his room, or milking a goat in his courtyard.

He was accessible to all and at all times. He visited the sick and was full of sympathy for all. Unlimited was his benevolence and generosity, and so was his anxious care for the welfare of the community. Despite innumerable presents which from all quarters unceasingly poured in for him, he left very little behind and even that he regarded as state property.'
 

Abu Juwairiya

Junior Member
I would like to outline a few points on the highlighted areas of the quotation.

'a shining example of his people'

A True Prophet can only be an example if he is like his people, he lives among them, he has the same salary, he has the same residence, lives in the same neighbourhood, lives like them, faces the same issues and problems as them and exemplifies a perfect and immaculate model of humanity while being no different from them in every manner or form.

'character was pure and stainless'

A True Prophet is unblemished in character and that entails that no one finds fault in him as a person; cannot argue he was anything but truthful, trustworthy and impeccable as an individual and from their record, life and career. Even if a Prophet is not accepted as a Divine Representative from God, his personal record is unassailable and flawless.

'[His] dress, his food, they were characterised by a rare simplicity'

A false prophet will change appearance, dress with expensive taste, become fabulously wealthy, allow others to buy their clothes for them, refine themselves with 'higher' forms of company, eat and drink well and have more than modest provisions while their followers will still be poor or even become poorer.

'no special mark of reverence'

While every Prophet is above his people as a 'Divine Representative' and his individual followers will accept him as such, false prophets will be elevated to either celebrity or godlike status. In the former, they will receive the best facilities and services the community has to offer, the greatest of everything including property, while in the latter they will be given divine titles including 'God's will, Son of God' and to being turned into God Himself etc.

Second, a True Prophet would not be recognisable among his followers. He would have no royal robes, no palaces, no mansions, no siren screaming police escorts, no bodyguards, no personal security personnel guarding him.

'seen in the market purchasing provisions'

As soon as wealth appears, false prophets are no longer in public, they prefer others to get things for them. Normal everyday purchases are the responsibility of others.

'mending his clothes in his room'

False prophets revel in wealth, not in wearing the same dishevelled, worn out, torn, dust stained garments. While it is not necessary for a True Prophet to always be in this state, they choose to remain humble even when wealth and followers allow them to afford more.

'milking a goat in his courtyard.'

A True Prophet never shows he is above working in the dirtiest of conditions, performing the lowest, sometimes the dirtiest and most difficult of physical labour even when they are the executive head of state themselves.

'accessible to all and at all times'

No True Prophet's home will have special police assigned for their security, no authentic apostle will be walled in and flanked by large numbers of others at all times with ordinary people unable to meet and see them without being screened first.

'Unlimited was his benevolence and generosity'

True Prophets would give most or almost all of their wealth and anything they get to their people. They would take hardly anything for themselves with the result that the followers would have more than the Prophets materially.

'anxious care for the welfare of the community'

Everything in a Prophet's words, actions, visions and attitude would reflect in the desire to see the community successful, healthy, responsible, at ease with themselves and richer than the state they were in at the outset of their missions. They would do everything in their power to ensure they themselves do nothing to make the community poorer, less healthier and less well off in any way. This would entail that they do nothing to enrich themselves at the community's expense and exploit their position financially and honestly from the community itself.

'he left very little behind and even that he regarded as state property.'

A True Prophet leaves nothing behind, no estates, no inheritance, no material wealth, no property, no bequests, no insurance, no family holdings, no land, no financial assets, nothing at all for their family, their followers or anyone. All that is left behind is the legacy, the exemplary example, the religious teachings and the scriptural treasures that will allow followers to be like the Prophet and follow him to be closer to the Creator and be rewarded in the Hereafter.
 
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