Who is Prophet Muhammad?

Prophet Muhammad is the man beloved by more than 1.2 billion Muslims. He is the man who taught us patience in the face of adversity. And he taught us to live in this world but seek eternal life in the hereafter.

It was to Prophet Muhammad that God revealed the Quran.  Along with this Book of guidance God sent Prophet Muhammad, whose behavior and high moral standards are an example to us all.

Prophet Muhammad’s life was the Quran. He understood it, he loved it and he lived his life based on its standards. And he taught us to recite the Quran, to live by its principles and to love it.

When Muslims declare their faith in One God, they also declare their belief that Muhammad is the slave and final messenger of God.

And when a Muslim hears his name, they ask God to send blessings upon him.  Prophet Muhammad was a man, a human being just like any other man, but it is his love for humanity that sets him apart.

Muslims love Prophet Muhammad, but it is his love for us, that makes him a man like no other. He longed for Paradise not only for himself but also for all of us. And he wept tears not for himself but for his Ummah, and for humanity: O’ God, my Ummah, my Ummah

Muslims also believe in the same Prophets mentioned in Jewish and Christian traditions, including Noah, Moses, Abraham and Jesus. They believe that all prophets came with the same message – to worship God alone.

A Mercy to Mankind

God tells us in the Quran that He did not send Prophet Muhammad except as a mercy for humankind. God did not say He sent Muhammad to the people of Arabia, or to the people of the 7^th century.  He made it clear that Prophet Muhammad was a prophet like no other. He’s the one whose message would spread far and wide and be applicable in all places for all times.

Muslims love him, respect him and follow him.  They hold him in such regard that for many it is emotionally painful to see or hear their mentor ridiculed or disrespected.

Throughout history and around the world non-Muslims have shown great respect and honor to Prophet Muhammad. He is considered influential in both religious and secular matters.

Mahatma Ghandi described him as scrupulous about pledges, intense in his devotion to his friends and followers, intrepid, fearless, and with absolute trust in God and in his own mission.

Prophet Muhammad taught Islam as a way of life, founded an empire, laid down a moral code and instituted a code of law focusing on respect, tolerance and justice.

What is it about Prophet Muhammad that inspires such devotion?  Is it his gentle and loving nature, his kindness and generosity or is it his ability to empathize with all of humanity?

Muhammad was a selfless man who devoted the last 23 years of his life to teaching his companions and followers how to worship God

Muslims do not worship Prophet Muhammad; they understand that he is only a man. However, he is a man worthy of our utmost respect and love. Prophet Muhammad loved humanity so much that he would weep out of fear for them. He loved his Ummah with such deep and profound devotion that God remarked on the depth of his love for us in Quran

Prophet Muhammad taught us to love God and to obey Him. He taught us to be kind to each other, to respect our elders, and care for our children. And he taught us that it was better to give than to receive. He taught us to love for our brothers and sisters what we love for ourselves. Prophet Muhammad taught us that families and communities are essential.

Muslims love him because he is the slave and messenger of God. He is a mercy to humankind and his gentleness, and devotion to humanity is unprecedented.