The Life Of The Prophet Muhammed {pbuh}

Here's a brief synopsis of the life of the Prophet Muhammed {pbuh}

• (Aug 20, 570AD) born 12 Rabbi ul-Awal 54BH of Quraish, Makkah
• 53BH Father, Abdullah, died 6 months after birth
• 47BH Mother, Amna, died when he was 6
• 45BH Grandfather looked after him but died when he was 8. Now looked after by uncle Abu-Talib, Meditated in Mt Hira cave
• 28BH At 25, married Khadijah
• 13BH At 40, on Lailat-ul-Qadr, @ Hira, Surah Ikraas (96:1-5) revealed, Journeyed to Taif for Dawah but was stoned
• 8 BH At 45, some followers fled to Abysinia & protected by christian King
• 3 BH Family (Ban Hashim) boycotted. At 50 wife Khadijah (65) & Abu-Talib died. Had Isra to Jerusalem & Maraj to heaven (given 5 daily prayers & fasting)
• HIJRA After 13 years as prophet in Makkah, journey to Yathrib (Medinah) 200 miles away
• 2 AH Battle of Badr, 1000 enemy...300 muslims, muslims won
• 3 AH Battle of Uhud, lost ground because faction of army disobeyed commands but still chased Quraish away
• 5 AH Battle of Al-Azhab, Quraish laid siege to Medinah but eventually gave up
• 7 AH Treaty of Hudeibiya to allow Hajj to Makkah
• 8 AH Quraish violated treaty so muslims captured Makkah & removed idols
• 10AH Last Hajj & last Kutbah. Also last Surah (An-Nasr 110)
• 11AH (June 8, 632AD) Prophet {pbuh} died

There have been many recent issues in the news regarding the freedom of speech. In Islam, we applaud freedom of speech and the rights of individuals to worship as they see fit. However, with these rights come responsibilities. We have the responsibility to respect other people. We have the responsibility to not abuse other races/religions/peoples. We have the responsibility to not incite racial hatred/violence. We have the responsibility to love and live with one another in peace (the Quran says "You have been made into Nations so that you may love and know one another").
As muslims, we feel the stance of the western media to allow pieces that insult our Prophet {pbuh} (or indeed any of our Prophets {ahs}) under the guise of "free speech with no limits", whilst at the same time preventing satirisation of western role models under the guise of "free speech so long as you don't insult people", to be hypocritical at the least. We believe that NO peoples should be insulted (regardless of which faith/creed/nation) and that free speech will still allow ample room for discussion whilst avoiding hurt to others.
The following are some excerpts of how respected western philosophers saw our Prophet {pbuh}:

• E.Gibbon & S.Ockley, History of the Saracen Empire "I believe in one God, and Muhammed the apostle of God" is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Diety has never been degraded by any visible idol: the honours of the Prophet have never transgressed the measure of human virtue: and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion.
• Diwan C Sharma, The Prophets of the East Muhammed was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him.
• John W Draper MD LLD, A history of the intellectual development of Europe Four years after the death of Justinian, AD 569, was born in Mecca, in Arabia the man who, of all men exercised the greatest influence upon the human race...Muhammed.
• R V C Bodley, The Messenger I doubt wether any man whose external conditions changed so much ever changed himself less to meet them.
• H A R Gibb, Muhammedanism That his (Muhammed's) reforms enhanced the status of women in general is universally admitted.
• J Austin, Muhammed the Prophet of Allah In little more than a year he was actually the spiritual, nominal and temporal ruler of Medina, with his hands on the lever that was to change the world.
• Thomas Carlyle, Heroes and Hero Worship Muhammed was the natural voice of humanity, of piety and equity, dwelling in the heart of this wild[erness].
• Lamartine, Historie de la Turquie Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational beliefs, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and one of spiritual empire, that is Muhammed. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?
• Prof K S Ramakrishna Rao, Muhammed the prophet of Islam The name [Muhammed] means "highly praised". He is to me the greatest mind among all the sons of Arabia.

If this is what Western non-muslim, knowledgeable thinkers are saying about our Prophet {pbuh}, it gives pause for thought concerning the mentality and level of education of those who needlessly attack Islam.