Muhammad in Islam

This is a sub-article to Muhammad.

Views of Muhammad in some aspects vary widely between the sects of Islam. This article focuses on these sects' doctrines and beliefs surrounding Muhammad.

Veneration of Muhammad

Muslims have many ways to express veneration for Muhammad, as an acknowledgement of him being the final prophet of Islam.

The doctrine of Sinlessness of Muhammad

Common beliefs

All Muslims believe that Muhammad was sinless in the sense of transmitting the revelation.

Sunni beliefs

The understanding that Muhammad and the other Prophets in Islam did commit sins does exist among Sunnis. However, the doctrine of sinlessness of Muhammad is also more or less incorporated into Sunnis beliefs. Sunnis believe that all prophets of Allah (such as Ibrahim, Joseph, Moses and Jesus) were sinless. . .

Shia beliefs

The doctorine of sinlessness in Shia'ism is called Ismah(Arabic/Persian: ِعصمت) literally means 'protection' and is generally translated as "sinlessness". Protection is believed to be of three types of "Protection from mistake in receiving the revelation from Allah", "Protection from mistake in conveying the revelation of Allah" and "Protection from sins." It is believed that all the prophets in Islam, Fatima, and the twelve descendants of Muhammad through Fatima are sinless.

The Shi'a teaches that Muhammad, Fatima together with the twelve descendants of Muhammad through Fatima are purified by God (See the Event of the Cloak). They are commonly called fourteen infallibles. Though the fourteen infallibles are human being and may be tempted by Satan towards sin, it is believed that they will be helped by God to overcome Satan’s temptations. The following verse of Qur’an is sometimes cited to prove this position.

(Satan) said: "O my Lord! because Thou hast put me in the wrong, I will make (wrong) fair-seeming to them on the earth, and I will put them all in the wrong,- Except Thy servants among them, sincere and purified (by Thy Grace)." (15:39-40)

However, Islam is ONE religion and dividing it into several so called sects is not what Islam is for. Therefore stating different groups views is not of importance. True Muslims do not conisder themselves as sunnis or shiyas, they consider themselves as MUSLIMS.

When was Muhammad’s soul created?

Shia beliefs

Some Shi'a believe that the souls of Muhammad and all the Five Pure Ones were created at the beginning of the world, and it was through them that all the rest of creation arose.

What was the fate of Muhammad's soul after his death?

Sufi views

Sufi's believe that Muhammad is alive his spirit pervades the world and can be reached by true seekers.

Miracles

All Muslims believe that Muhammad performed miracles, such as splitting the moon. They also believe the the Quran is the living miracle given to Muhammad by Allah.

In speaking and writing

When speaking or writing, Muhammad's name is often followed by the phrase "peace be upon him," in English often abbreviated to PBUH or simply "(p)".

Muhammad is often referenced with titles of praise:

• Al Mustafa, "the chosen one"
• Al Rasul, "the Messenger"
• Al Nabi, "the Prophet"
• Al Khatim, "the seal"
• Al Ummi, "the unlettered one"
• Al Amin, "the trustworthy"
• Al Sadiq, "the truthful"
• Al Mutawkkil, "the one who puts his trust [in God]"
• Al Kutham, "the generous one"
• Al Fatih, "the opener"
• Al Mahi, "the eraser [of disbelief]"
• Al Hashir, "the gatherer [of souls on the day of judgement]"
• Al Aqib, "the last [prophet]"
• Al Dahuk, "the one who smiles, the cheerful one"

Also:

• Abu al-Qasem
• Ahmad, "the chosen one"

Muhammad Maher Hamadeh, in his Ph.D. dissertation, lists 1,548 different titles of praise for Muhammad.

See also this.

Praise in poetry and music

Islamic poetry is rich in the praise and flattery of Muhammad. Rarely is there any Muslim poet who is without any piece written on him. In fact there is a special class of poetry, known as Nasheed (Arabic) or Naat (Urdu), devoted to such praise. This is inspired by the Islamic traditions (ahadith) that each act of veneration would result in 10 times the blessing of God on the praiser. (see Praise of Muhammad in poetry).

Concerts of Muslim and especially Sufi devotional music include songs praising Muhammad (see Islamic music, Sufism).

The birthday of Muhammad (Mawlid)

Some Muslims celebrate Muhammad's birthday with elaborate festivities. Cities and homes are illuminated with colorful lights and candles, parades and processions are carried out, and conferences on the life of Muhammad are held. Other Muslims, such as the Salafi sect, feel that such celebrations are idolatry or shirk or innovations and discountenance them.

Punishment of criticism

Criticism of Muhammad is often equated with blasphemy, which is punishable (by death) in some Muslim-majority or Islamic states. This is because the Muslim belief is that Muhammad was the messenger of God himself, and that his actions were willed by God. Many Muslims believe that to reject and criticise Muhammad is to reject and criticise God.

Relics of Muhammad

Relics of the Muhammad, such as his grave, his sword, his clothing, are revered. The largest collection of such relics is to be found in Istanbul's Topkapı Palace museum, where the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle contains items said to be Muhammad's robe, his banner, his footprint, some of his hair, etc.

Other sites displaying items said to be relics of Muhammad:

• Jama Masjid, New Delhi, India, displays a red beard-hair of the prophet, his sandals, and his footprint, embedded in a marble slab.
• Hazrat Bal Dargah, Mosque of the Prophet's Hair, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
• Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad, India, claims to have a hair from Muhammad's beard, his cloak, and his footprint.
• Noor Mahal, Uch, Pakistan, claims to hold one of Muhammad's hairs.
• Badshahi Mosque Museum, Lahore, Pakistan, once held a pair of shoes said to have belonged to Muhammad. They were stolen in 2002.
• Karka Sharif, Kandahar, Afghanistan, said to hold Muhammad's cloak.

All the relics could be said to be of dubious origin, and many Muslims often dismiss them as not being authentic.

Muhammad is buried in Masjid-al-Nabi, the Prophet's Mosque, in Medina, in what is now Saudi Arabia [2]. The Saudi government adheres to the Wahabi or Salafi sect of Sunni Islam, and discourages veneration of relics and graves. The Masjid-al-Nabi is said to have been extensively "modernized" by the Saudis, who removed many traces of the piety of previous ages.

Visual representation

Main article: Depictions of Muhammad

While most of Islam was predominantly aniconistic during most of its history, there are rich traditions of visual representation of Muhammad, mainly in the form of paintings and illustrations in religious or hagiographical texts. Muhammad has been depicted rarely by Muslims. If any other religious figure is depicted, their face is never shown and often they are shown with their head veiled in sheets embroided with Qur'anic text - yet any representation of even the human figure is forbidden, especially in Sunni Islam. representations of any religious figure is condemned in Islam; all Sunni branches adhere to this rule, whereas Shi'as do not have such a strict rule of this, as shown by many images of their imams, including Ali. Visual depictions are forbidden because this can distort information about the person, and they are thought to be unnecessary since the focus should be on the message the person carried rather than what their face looked like.

See also

• Durood

References

• Schimmel, Annemarie. 1985. And Muhammad is His Messenger: The Veneration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-4128-0.