Introduction to the Seerah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

From the arrival of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) to His passing away into the presence of Allah Ta’ala, all aspects of His life, His personality, His miracles, the conditions of His life, His sayings, etc. are termed as Seerah.

 

To understand Islam and to act upon it, it is necessary for every Muslim to be aware of the matchless character of its founder.  Allah Ta’ala has decreed His acts and deeds to be the Shariah (the Islamic code of life) because He (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) decrees pure things as permissible (Halal) and impure things as prohibited (Haraam).  Allah Ta’ala has made the personality and the character of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as the most perfect model for the entire humanity and has made it a source of guidance.  Allah Ta’ala has declared the Seerah of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as a beacon of guidance and that to follow the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is to follow Him.

 

Whoso obeyeth the messenger hath obeyed Allah, and whoso turneth away: We have not sent thee as a warder over them. Surah Nisa (4:80)

 

Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembereth Allah much. Surah Ahzaab (21:21)

 

Those who follow the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), eternal blessings and never-ending ni’mah are their reward.

 

Before the arrival of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), the world was seeped into the darkness of Kufr and Shirk.  Ignorance had spread in the world, oppression, massacres and bloodshed had reached its peak.  Ignorance was such that the birth of a girl was considered inauspicious and unfortunate, and girls used to be buried alive.

 

The whole society was plagued with usury, gambling, drinking, immodesty and adultery.  People used to worship idols which they themselves created.  Immodesty was such that the Tawaf of the Ka’aba was done in the nude.  People used to draw swords on trivial matters and the resulting wars would themselves continue for centuries.

 

In short all that was bad and ugly was rampant.  At this time to remove the people from the darkness of Kufr and Shirk, to raise them from the mires of dishonor to the summits of honor, to dispel the darkness of ignorance and light the fire of ‘Irfan (knowledge of Allah Ta’ala) and to illuminate the whole world, Allah Ta’ala sent Hadhrat Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with the mantle of Prophethood to be the Guide and Master of the whole creation.