The teachings of Muslim Muhammad (peace Students' be upon him) Association University of Alberta Muslims say ’peace be upon him’ after saying the name Muhammad. This is done out of utmost respect and love for him and the sacr ifices he made during this lifetime.
It also may serve, as a r e- minder to Muslims over the ages, that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was, in no way divine and that Muslims ask for God’s peace even for His me s- What did se nger. Muhammad teach? For more information please contact:
Muslim Students' Association
Office 040U Understanding Islam Box 55 SUB University of Alberta Arabic Calligraphy: ‘Muhammad’ Edmonton, AB T6G 2J7 [email protected] [email protected] www.ualberta.ca/~msa ing the ties of kinship, treating guests badly, and the The Prophet’s character strong amongst us exploited the weak. We remained in this state until Go d sent us a Prophet, one of our own Muhammad was born into a tribal and a What did people whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness and warring Arabian society close to 600 years integrity were well -known to us. after Jesus (peace upo n them both). He was a righteous man, and had earned the nick - Muhammad teach? He called us to worship God alone, and to renounce the name “the Trustworthy” amongst his co m- stones and the idols which we and our ancestors used to munity, long before the Quran was revealed worship besides Go d. to him. Islam has two major sources of religious teachings. The first is the Holy Quran r e- He commanded us to speak the truth, to honour our When he began to recite the Quran to his early companions, who were amazed at i ts vealed to Muhammad —peace be upon him promises, to be kind to our neighbours, to cease all fo r- linguistic beauty and power. It was well (pbuh). The second are the teachings and bi dden acts, to abstain from bloodshed, to avoid obscen i- ties and false witness, not to appropriate an orphan’s known that Muhammad (peace be upon him) sayings of Muhammad (pbuh). Although, property nor slander chaste women. was unable to read or write, and so the his teachi ngs are not considered the direct source of these powerful words intrigued words of God like the Quran, his teachings He ordered us to worship God alone an d not to associate many. were divinely guided and inspired. anything with him, to uphold our prayers, to give charity Muhammad (peace be upon him) was pers e- Certainly, in th e messenger of God and to fast for the month of Ramadan. cuted for much of his life. By the time he [Muhammad] you have a good example, for died however, almost the entire Arabian We believe d in him and what he brought to us from God those who look unto God and the Last Day, pe ninsula had become Muslim and followed and we follow him in what he has asked us to do and we his teachings devoutly. Yet the Prophet M u- and remember God often. keep away from what he forbad e us from doing. Qu ran 33:21 hammad continued to live a humble life and died without a possession or a penny. Thereupon, O King, our people attacked us, visited the The teachings of Muhammad have been severest punishment on us to make us renounce our r e- He enjoined people to mercy, justice, p a- passed down through the ages. Muslims li gion and take us back to the old immorality. tience and faith, and abhorred oppression were the first to invent the system of scho l- towards people, animals and the enviro n- arly referencing, to ensure that the So we left for your country, choosing you before anyone ment. Prophet’s teachings had been passed down else, desiring your protect ion and hoping to live in justice Amongst his many sayings are: from reliable sources . and in peace in your midst.” Everyone starts his day and is a vendor Jafar’s summary The land was a Christian land, and the King allowed the of his soul, either freeing it, or bringing Muslims who had emigrated to stay, where the tiny Mu s- about its ruin. In the ear ly days of Islam, many people in lim community flourished alongside the native Chri s- Makkah rejected Muhammad’s teachings tians. Be in this world as though you are a and many of his followers were violently stranger and a traveller. persecuted. Some of early followers were given permission to seek refuge in a Part of someone’s being a good Muslim, neighbouring kingdom. is leaving alone that which does not co n- cern him. When they arrived, Jafar, one of the early companions of the Prophet (pbuh), e x- None of you will [truly] be a believer, plained Islam and the teachings of Muha m- until he wishes for his brother [in faith] mad to the King of the land: what he wishes for himself.
“O King, we were a people in a state of i g- [An -Naw awi’s collection of 40 Hadith] norance and immorality, worshipping idols The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born in The best gift from a father to his child is and eating the flesh of dead animals [dead Makkah, Arabia. education and upbringing of disease or prey], committing all sorts of abominations and shameful deeds, break - [At -Tirmidhi’s collection of Hadith]