The personality of the Holy Prophet of Islam (Saw): The point where all Muslim affections come together

The hearts that were open to divine teachings and commands were built by the Holy Prophet (S). Minds were enlightened and wills were strengthened on a daily basis. During the time they were living in Mecca, those few believers whose number was growing on a daily basis faced such difficulties that people like us cannot even imagine. These fresh trees grew in an atmosphere in which all the values were Jahiliyya values, in an atmosphere in which prejudice, deep spite, brutality, oppression and lust were pressuring people. These fresh trees rose up from among such hard and impenetrable rocks.
The Commander of the Faithful says:“But you must remember that hardy trees which grow on the border of deserts have very strong timber.” 9 No storm could shake the trees that have their roots in rocks. Thirteen years passed and a civilized Islamic society was built on these solid foundations. It took another ten years to build an Islamic Ummah. Building an Ummah was not about politics alone. Only part of it was about politics. Another issue was educating each and every member of the Islamic society.
“He it is Who raised among the inhabitants of Mecca a Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His communications and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom.”10
The Holy Prophet (S) purified them. Each and every heart was educated by the Holy Prophet (S). He used to fill each and every mind with knowledge. “… and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom.”Wisdom is at a higher level. The Holy Prophet (S) would not just teach divine laws and commands to the people, rather he would teach them wisdom. He would open their eyes to realities of the world.
This was how the Holy Prophet (S) spent the first ten years in Medina: on one hand, he would run the affairs of the Islamic society, he would safeguard its foundations, he would spread Islam, he would prepare the way for the people who were living outside Medina to gradually turn to the enlightened world of Islamic teachings and on the other hand, he would educate members of his society. Dear brothers and sisters, these two parts cannot be separated from one another.
Separation of Islam from politics: Promoted by the arrogant and colonial powers
Some people announced that Islamic faith is a personal matter and that politics should be separated from Islam. This is promoted in many Islamic societies and in the teachings of the aggressive, arrogant and colonial western world. They promote the idea that Islam is separate from politics.
They have taken politics away from Islam. This is while politics was the first thing that the Holy Prophet of Islam (S) paid attention to immediately after migrating to Medina and saving the Muslims from the hardships of Mecca. Building an Islamic society, establishing an Islamic government, forming an Islamic army, sending letters to great leaders throughout the world and entering the great political arena of the time all of these things were political in nature.
How is it possible to separate Islam from politics? How is it possible to interpret and shape politics with anything other than the hand of Islamic guidance?
“Those who have made the Quran into shreds.” 11
Some people shred the Holy Quran to pieces.
“We believe in some and disbelieve in others.” 12
They have faith in the kind of worship that the Holy Quran promotes, but not in the kind of politics that it contains.
“Certainly We sent Our messengers with clear arguments, and sent down with them the Book and the balance that men may conduct themselves with equity.” 13
What is equity? Equity means establishing social justice in society. Who can do this? Establishing an Islamic society in which there is justice and equity is a political undertaking, one that can be done by those who run a country. This is the goal of divine prophets. Not only the Holy Prophet of Islam (S), but also Isa, Musa, Ibrahim and other divine prophets were sent to fulfill a political purpose, to establish an Islamic system. But then some people act pious and say: “We do not want to have anything to do with politics.” Is religion separate from politics?
And the malicious propaganda campaigns by the west constantly promote the idea that religion should be separated from politics, that religion should be separated from government. If we are true Muslims, we should accept that religion and government are inseparable. Religion and politics are not two things that have been attached to each other: they are one and the same.
In Islam, religion and government originate from the same source, and that source is divine revelations. This is the essence of Islam and the Holy Quran. On the one hand, some people separate politics from Islam and on the other hand, some other people reduce Islam to politics, to a political game. They ignore ethics, spirituality, affection, moral virtues and human dignity, which are the main goal of the Holy Prophet’s (S) Be’that. They are examples of
“those who have made the Quran into shreds”. 14
They are examples of those who
“believe in some and disbelieve in others”. 15
Reducing Islam to brilliant political quotes, disregarding humility of hearts, disregarding divine remembrance, purity and spirituality, failing to kneel before Allah the Exalted, failing to pray for what one needs, disregarding emotional attachment to Allah the Exalted, failing to shed tears when faced with God’s greatness, failing to pray for divine mercy, disregarding patience, forbearance, generosity, forgiveness, brotherhood and mercy, clinging to politics alone in the name of Islam– these things would lead to the same deviation. There is no difference.
“… and purifies them and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom.” 16
There is both purification and instruction. The scope of religious instruction is our hearts, our minds and our hands and arms.
“O Prophet, strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and be hard against them. And their abode is hell and evil is the resort.” 17
When faced with the enemy, when faced with an aggressor, when faced with a person who stands against spreading the light of spirituality and divine revelations, you need to take action with your hands.
“We have made the iron, wherein is great violence and advantages to men.” 18
It is necessary to rise up with an iron-fist and with unbreakable determination. These are the remedies for the problems that the Islamic Ummah is suffering from.
The Islamic Ummah is in need of true Islamic rule
Today the Islamic Ummah needs genuine Islamic government. Islamic government is the kind of government that is concerned about the hearts of human beings and nations, the kind of government that is concerned about the minds, knowledge and scientific progress of human beings, the kind of government that is concerned about what human beings can do with their powerful hands and arms, a kind of government that is concerned about implementing the right policies among human beings. This is what the Islamic Ummah needs today.
• 1.Supreme Leader’s speech delivered on April 16, 2006 on the occasion of birthday anniversaries of the Holy Prophet (S) and Imam Sadiq (a.s.)
• 2.Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 68, P. 382
• 3.Sura al-Qalam, Ayah 4
• 4.Mukhtasar al-Basa’ir, P. 60
• 5.Commentary attributed to Imam Hassan al-Askari (a.s.), P. 156
• 6.Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 17, P. 309
• 7.Nahjul Balaghah, Sermon 2
• 8.Sura al-Anam, Ayah 125
• 9.Nahjul Balaghah, Sermon 45
• 10..Sura al-Jumua, Ayah 2
• 11.Sura al-Hijr, Ayah 91
• 12.Sura an-Nisa, Ayah 150
• 13.Sura al-Hadid, Ayah, 25
• 14.Sura al-Hijr, Ayah 91
• 15.Sura an-Nisa, Ayah 150
• 16.Sura al-Jumua, Ayah 2
• 17.Sura at-Tahrim, Ayah 9
• 18.Sura al-Hadid, Ayah 25