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HAZRAT
MUHAMMAD(Peace be upon him) Delivering his last address to the Muslims from Mount Arafat, the Prophet said "O People! Listen to my words as I may not be with you another year in this place. Be humane and just among yourselves. The life and the property of one are sacred and inviolable to the other. Render faithfully everyone his due, as you will appear before God and He will demand an account of your actions. Treat women well; they are your help-mates and can do nothing by themselves. You have taken them from God on trust. O People! Listen to my words and fix them in your memory. I have given you everything; I have left to you a law which you should preserve and be firmly attached to a law clear and positive: the Book of God and the & Sunnah" (i.e., Practice of the Prophet). This greatest benefactor of mankind and the last Apostle of God passed away from this world on 12th Rabiul Awwal 11A.H., 632 AC and was buried in the room occupied of his wife, Aisha siddiqa. He had accomplished his task. Muhammad (PBUH) led an exemplary life. Even before he was assigned his mission, he spent his time in meditation, devotion, contemplation, fasting and service to his fellow beings. His virtuous life earned for him the title of 'Amin' (Trustworthy). Later the Revelation commanded him to preach the faith to the people. He taught them the unity of God and the four obligatory duties enjoined by Islam-namely Prayer, Zakat, Fasting and Haj (Annual Pilgrimage to Makkah). He himself practiced what he preached and set an example for others. He stood sometimes so long in prayers during the night that his feet got swollen. He spent the major part of night in prayers and meditation. He prayed not only for him-self but for the entire creation. His prayers and devotion to God enabled him to check such worldly desires and impulses which could distract him from the supreme goal. Islam enjoins upon its followers to observe one month's fast in a year. This has proved to be a very effective source of controlling one's worldly desires. The Holy Prophet of Islam fasted for more than three month's during a year, besides one month's obligatory fast. His was a comprehensive life. He
went through all sorts of trials and tribulations for establishing
the kingdom of God on earth. Faithfully and sincerely he performed
his duties to God and His creatures, to wife and children, to
relations and neighbours, to friends and foes, to the needy and
disabled, to allies and aliens-in fact to all human beings. An
account of his comprehensive life preserved in Traditions (Hadith)
has served as a beacon light not only for his followers but to
entire humanity during the last fourteen centuries or more His
exemplary life covering different spheres of human activity continues
to inspire and guide human beings for the last more than 1,400
years. |
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