APPENDIX 1: SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD ﷺ
HE NEVER WROTE A BIOGRAPHY, YET MORE HAS BEEN WRITTEN ABOUT HIM THAN ANY OTHER PERSON
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ could not read or write, and he did not author any piece of work, including a biography. However, there are more biographies about his life that any other person, living in the past or present.
HE IS THE MOST PRAISED AND MENTIONED PERSON IN THE WORLD (AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE THAT WAY)
It is estimated that every micro-second someone is mentioning and praising the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. His name actually means the praised one.
Due to global time zones Muslim prayer times differ around the world. When the time for prayer comes in, the call to prayer is announced. The call to prayer mentions the Prophet's ﷺ name:
God is great, God is great. God is great, God is great. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but God, I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but God. I bear witness Muhammad is the messenger of God, I bear witness Muhammad is the messenger of God. Come to prayer, come to prayer. Come to success, come to success. God is great, God is great. There is no deity worthy of worship but God.
The call to prayer is always being called, and therefore the Prophet's ﷺ name is always being mentioned.
In addition to this, Muslims around the world mention, pray for, and praise the Prophet ﷺ in their sermons, prayers, and supplications. It is estimated that someone is always mentioning his name in the above context.
He is indeed the most praised and remembered person in the world.
WE HAVE MORE BIOGRAPHIES ABOUT THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD'S ﷺ COMPANIONS THAN ANY OTHER PERSON'S
In Islamic history we have recorded biographies of around 10,000 companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ . These biographies are available for anyone to read, and they form part of Islamic historical criticism called 'ilm ul-rijaal (the knowledge of people). This historical criticism was vital to ensure that what people attributed and said about the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was authentic.
HE WAS DESCRIBED AS THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON TO HAVE LIVED
Michael H. Hart a Professor of astronomy, physics and the history of science in his book The 100: A Ranking Of The Most Influential Persons in History argues that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ should top the list of the most influential people in the world:
"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level."[96] [The 100: A Ranking Of The Most Influential Persons In History, New York, 1978, p. 33]
APPENDIX 2: IF GOD IS THE-LOVING, CAN HE HATE?
Before this question is answered we must understand that when we attribute anything to God, we have to remove any anthropomorphic connotations. God in the Islamic tradition is unique and transcendent. The Qur'an affirms:
"There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing." The Qur'an, Chapter 42, Verse 11
"Say: He is God, the Uniquely One." The Qur'an, Chapter 12, Verse 1
Therefore, when we attribute things like hate or pleasure, it has to be understood in the context of His transcendence and uniqueness.
Addressing the question about whether God hates, the answer is explained in the following points:
Logically speaking love necessitates hate. If one were to love everything, including that which denies love, and prevents love, and removes it, then that would not be love at all. In order to love you have to dislike that which prevents love.
If one loves, can they love evil or capriciousness? What does it mean to love murder, arrogance, ingratitude or a rejection of the truth? Surely, loving those things is not love at all, but opposes love.
God is The-Loving and therefore hating that which is a barrier to His love or that which contradicts His love is necessary. Otherwise it wouldn't be love at all.
This however is not to be confused with God's loving compassion for people. God via His mercy can love those who are malevolent. But God explains the traits of those who deserve His special love, some include:
"And God loves the patient." The Qur'an, Chapter 3, Verse 146
"For God loves those who are fair (and just)." The Qur'an, Chapter 49, Verse 9
"Certainly, God loves those who put their trust (in Him)." The Qur'an, Chapter 3, Verse 159
"God loves kindness in all matters." Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
"Truly, God loves those who turn unto him in repentance." The Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 222
"For God loves the righteous (the pious)." The Qur'an. Chapter 9, Verse 4
"Truly, God loves the good-doers." The Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 195
"God is All-Generous and He loves generosity in sale, purchase and judgment." Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
"If two individuals love each other for the sake of God, the stronger in love to his brother will be more loved by God." Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
"The best loved deeds to God are the ones that are continuous even if they are not very many." Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
God also explains what takes someone away from His special love, some of these things include:
"God does not love those who overstep the limits." The Qur'an, Chapter 2, Verse 190
"God does not love evil doers." The Qur'an, Chapter 3, Verse 140
"He does not love the wasteful." The Qur'an, Chapter 7, Verse 31
"God does not love arrogant or boastful people." The Qur'an, Chapter 31, Verse 18
The key question we need to ask ourselves is, what do I need to be enveloped with God's special love? The answer as aforementioned in this book is simple: love and follow the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ , and by doing so, you will attain the traits of those who God blesses with His special love.
Written by Andreas Tzortzis
YOU ARE READING
Who do you love?
Spiritual"Love is an activity, not a passive effect; it is a "standing in," not a "falling for". In the most general way, the active character of love can be described by stating that love is primarily giving, not receiving."[1]
