This article was first Published on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at – :
http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2008/01/pledge-pictures-prophet.html
Mohammad,
Qur’aan speaks about the first part of the pledge, the Shahadah – There is no God but God and the second part – Muhammad is God’s messenger. These two are not together in Qur’aan, but have been in practice. It does give a complete sense to the pledge. I believe most Muslims are aware of it.
I do agree with you that a few Muslims adore the Prophet to a point of making him next to God, that adulation makes one human, granted that is not part of the essence of Islam. Prophet was abundantly clear that only God is to be worshipped and one else, that he is God’s messenger like the other messengers, that the focus ought to be the message and not the messenger.
The point to be made is that no Muslim worships the Prophet, he is adored, praises are sung for him and he was about freedom, liberty and justice. Even the few Muslims, who almost make him God like, will respond to you that he is not God, if you were to ask them the blunt question.
Today’s Muslims or Muslims in the past have given an exalted status to Prophet Muhammad. That does not mean that they ever think less of other prophets. No Muslim in the world has ever said a derogatory word about Moses, Adam, Solomon, David, Jacob, and Joseph, John the Baptist or Jesus. It is part of their faith to respect all the prophets and messengers, whether they are know (25 of them) them or not (123, 975 of them). 124,000 Prophet is a metaphorical number to mean infinity, I don’t know if it has any mathematical component to it, but it simply means to respect the teacher, the imparter of knowledge who works to create peace and justice in the world, no matter who it is, it is God sent.
Thank you.
Mike Ghouse
World Muslim Congress..
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