Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, The Life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Conference, 30^th September 2023, ICC, Birmingham.

Introduction:

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Infinite peace, blessings, and salutations upon the Noble Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the beacon of divine light and the epitome of mercy. Our reflections today seek to delve into the ocean of his profound teachings and luminous character, inviting us all to walk in his radiant footsteps.

Mercy and Gentleness:

The Prophet’s ﷺ gentleness is a radiant reflection of divine grace, “By God’s mercy, you were gentle toward them…” (Quran 3:159). His mercy was a soothing balm, healing the wounds of the world, turning hearts of stone into hearts beating with love and compassion. His mercy is a divine mystery, encompassing everything in existence, a testament to Allah’s proclamation, “We have only sent you as a mercy to the worlds” (Quran 21:107).

His gentle demeanour and loving approach drew people towards the truth. The world blossomed in the radiance of his mercy, his kindness softened people’s antipathy towards him and Islam, and his love melted their hearts. The inherent kindness within his teachings reflects heavenly Rahmah, “God is Gentle and loves gentleness in all things.” (Ibn Majah 3689), opening the gates of spiritual enlightenment and divine wisdom to all. The embodiment of heavenly compassion, a transformative power elevating souls to the realms of heavenly stations.

The gentleness of the Prophet ﷺ was not mere softness of tone but was the essence of his being, manifesting in his interactions, his gaze, his walk, and his stillness. It was a gentleness born of strength, a strength infused with divine light, a light that penetrated the veils of hearts, igniting them with the fire of divine love and awakening souls to the truth of their existence.

Sincerity and Purity of Heart:

The Prophet ﷺ, through heavenly-inspired wisdom and divine illumination, elevated sincerity (nasīhah) to the pinnacle of spiritual virtues. “Religion is sincerity (nasīhah)” (Mishkāt, Hadīth no. 4966). His sincerity was the golden thread weaving through the fabric of his existence, his every action a manifestation of pure intention and unadulterated devotion.

His heart, a sanctum of divine mysteries, was a pure vessel, unblemished by the stains of this temporary world. A heart that resonated with the divine melody, where the light of truth and the essence of love intertwined, creating a harmonious symphony of God-consciousness (taqwa). His purity of heart and sincerity in speech were the golden keys that unlocked the doors of guidance and light, allowing heavenly lights to permeate the hearts of humanity.

His sincerity was the luminous moon in the night sky of existence, the compass pointing to the ultimate truth, guiding the wanderers in the desert of life towards the oasis of heavenly realisation. His every word, a drop of heavenly wisdom; his every action, a step in the dance of heavenly love; and his every breath, a whisper of the heavenly secrets, unveiling hidden treasures to those who listened with the ear of their heart.

Compassion to All Beings:

His compassion transcends human understanding, it is a divine gift, a universal mercy reaching the furthest corners of existence. His compassionate gaze upon creation was a shower of divine blessings, nourishing the souls and quenching the thirst of longing hearts. His every interaction was imbued with compassion, his very essence a sanctuary for all beings. “The Compassionate One has mercy on those who are merciful…” (Abu Dawud 4941).

He taught us the sacred language of compassion, a universal tongue speaking to our hearts, connecting our souls in the divine symphony of existence. His words, “If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in the heaven will show mercy to you” (Muslim 2752c; Ibn Majah 4294), are echoes of divine compassion, imbuing our hearts with love and kindness. His compassion was a bridge between the heavens and the earth, a divine conduit transmitting the infinite mercy of the Creator to His creation. It was the golden key unlocking the doors of divine presence, allowing breezes of heavenly love to embrace the hearts of all creatures.

This heavenly compassion was not confined to humans but was a universal mercy, touching every atom of existence, every creature in creation. A boundless ocean whose waves caressed the shores of existence, whispering the secrets of heavenly love to any hearts that listen, washing away the stains of separation and kindling the flames of unity and love within.

Love and Tolerance:

The Prophet ﷺ was the incarnation of divine love, a celestial flame burning away the veils of illusion, enlightening our hearts with the luminous reality of the oneness of God. His assurance, “Everyone will be with those whom they love” (Bukhari 6169), reflects the boundless love that filled his noble heart. His love was a transformative power, turning the base into the noble, the mundane into the sublime. A sacred wine intoxicating our souls, transporting them to the divine presence where love is the language, and unity is the truth.

His teachings of tolerance and acceptance are the guiding stars in the dark sky of existence, illuminating the path to divine realization and human harmony. “Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them…” (Bukhari 6125), he advised, highlighting his approach of love and tolerance. The Prophet ﷺ was a living example of divine tolerance, his actions were a testament to the universal truth of human dignity and mutual respect. His life is a shining beacon calling humanity to the shores of peace and acceptance, inviting our souls to the heavenly banquet of unity through diversity.

His love and tolerance were not confined to words but were manifested in actions, and lived experiences, breathing life into dead hearts, and illuminating the dark corners of the soul. His tolerance was a divine command, a sacred duty bestowed upon him by the Creator, a celestial mandate to spread the fragrance of divine love and the light of divine truth in the world.

Final Reflections:

Let us strive to internalise the teachings of our Beloved Prophet ﷺ, to be the mirrors reflecting heavenly qualities. As we walk in his footsteps, let us become the carriers of divine light, spreading peace, love, and unity to the world.

May infinite peace, blessings, and salutations continue to shower upon the Noble Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, his family, his companions, and his followers until the end of time. May his radiant light continue to guide us to the divine presence, and may his sacred love continue to unite our hearts in the bond of the brotherhood and sisterhood of our human family.

Conclusion:

Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah, for allowing us to reflect upon the life and teachings of His Beloved ﷺ. May these reflections be the seeds of divine love and wisdom in our hearts, and may they grow into the trees of divine realisation, bearing the fruits of heavenly stations and the leaves of heavenly knowledge.

[Pause for a moment of silent reflection]

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu.

—

References:

“By God’s mercy, you (Prophet) were gentle toward them. If you had been rude and hardhearted, they would have turned away from you. Pardon them, ask forgiveness for them, and consult them about the matter, but once you decide on a course of action, put your trust in God. God loves those who trust Him.”
~ Holy Quran 3:159 (Safi Kaskas)

“We have only sent you (Prophet) as a mercy to the worlds.”
~ Holy Quran 21:107 (Safi Kaskas)

It was narrated from Aishah that the Prophet(ﷺ) said: “Allah is Gentle and loves gentleness in all things.” (Ibn Majah 3689)

It was narrated from Jarir bin Abdullah Al-Bajali that the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: “Whoever is deprived of gentleness, he is deprived of goodness.” (Ibn Majah 3687)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told his companions, “You don’t truly believe until you have mercy for others.” His companions responded, “We all have mercy.” The Prophet ﷺ then told them, “Verily, you don’t reach this level of faith by just having mercy for those who are close to you, but you must have mercy for everyone.” (al-Targheeb 3/210)

On the authority of Tamīm al-Dārī that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Religion is sincerity [nasīhah]” three times. We asked, “To whom?” He replied, “To Allah, to His Book, to His Messenger, to the leaders of the Muslims and their common folk.” (Mishkāt, Hadīth no. 4966).

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was a person of gentle disposition, so when she (A’Isha) wished for a thing, he accepted it (provided it did not contravene the teachings of Islam). (Muslim 1213c)

Asma‘ said My mother came to me seeking some act of kindness from me during the treaty of the Quraish (at Hudaibiyyah). While she hated Islam and she was a polytheist. I said Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), my mother has come to me while she hates Islam and she is a disbeliever. May I do an act of kindness to her? He replied Yes, do an act of kindness to her. (Sunan Abi Dawud 1668)

Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Compassionate One has mercy on those who are merciful. If you show mercy to those who are on the earth, He Who is in the heaven will show mercy to you. (Abi Dawud 4941)

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “On the day when He created the heavens and the earth, Allah created one hundred (degrees of) mercy, of which He placed one on earth, by virtue of which mothers show compassion to their children and animals as well as the birds show compassion to one another. And He kept back ninety-nine (degrees of) mercy. When the Day of Resurrection comes, Allah will complete this mercy.” (Ibn Majah 4294)

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There are one hundred (parts of) mercy for Allah and He has sent down out of these one part of mercy upon the jinn and human beings and animals and the insects, and it is because of this (one part) that they love one another, show kindness to one another and even the beast treats its young one with affection, and Allah has reserved ninety nine parts of mercy with which He would treat His servants on the Day of Resurrection. (Muslim 2752c)

Mu’awiya ibn Qurra reported that his father said, “A man said, ‘Messenger of Allah, I was going to slaughter a sheep and then I felt sorry for it (or ‘sorry for the sheep I was going to slaughter’).’ He said twice, ‘Since you showed mercy to the sheep, Allah will show mercy to you.'” (Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 373)

Ibrahim bin Muhammad, one of the offspring of ‘Ali bin Abi Talib, said Imam Ali described the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as, “the most generous of people [in hand, and the most big-hearted of them] in breast. He was the most truthful of people in speech, the softest of them in nature, and the most noble of them in his relations (‘Ishrah). Whoever saw him for the first time (Badihah) would fear him, and whoever got to know him, loved him. The one who tried to describe him would have to say: ‘I have not seen before him or after him anyone who resembles him (ﷺ).'” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3638)

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Make things easy for the people, and do not make it difficult for them, and make them calm (with glad tidings) and do not repulse (them).” (Bukhari 6125)

Narrated ‘Abdullah bin Mas‘ud: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said, “O Prophet ﷺ, what do you say about a man who loves some people but cannot catch up with their good deeds?” The Prophet ﷺ said, “Everyone will be with those whom they love.” (Bukhari 6169)

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah bin ‘Amr said: “It was said to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): ‘Which of the people is best?’ He said: ‘Everyone who is pure of heart and sincere in speech.’ They said: ‘Sincere in speech, we know what this is, but what is pure of heart?’ He said: ‘It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancor or envy in it.’” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4216)