Muhammad SAW and The Sharia' He Brought

 To examine some the fragrant aspects of Islamic Statutes introduced by the Messenger of Allah, be peace upon him, first we have to see what the level of the personality of the bearer of the Sharia’ himself was. Apart from the devotion and great reverence we have in our hearts for our Holy Prophet, an impartial study of his personality shows him to be a man of an incomparable dignity and wisdom. Even long before his proclamation to be the Messenger of Allah, his community in Mecca was convinced of his being at the zenith of humanity and manliness. The best among the people he was by his moral strength and evidently peerless model of virtuousness.
It is not a strange thing to believe a man of such a matchless caliber to be the bearer of the Sharia’ really incomparable in the entire law codes of the world. The most important thing of the Sharia’ brought by Muhammad, be the peace and blessings upon him, is its universality. An easiness, practicability and consistency with the human nature without any jurisprudence hairsplitting are obvious aspects of Islamic Sharia’. It can be very confidently put it in service and every community of the world can get benefitted from its unique value. Though all of its features are rarified but to judge its distinction we can particularly take one thing in consideration.

Absoluteness and completeness is another important side of Sharia’. It encompasses every aspect and satisfies every need of man’s life. Not a single thing relating to the daily life problems has been left omitted in it. “And We have neglected nothing in the Book [Register] (Al-Lawh Al-Mafuz).” Al-Anam”38) Muhammad, be peace and blessings of Allah upon him, was the last and final Prophet of Allah on this earth. So it was a natural requirement about the Sharia’ brought by him to be perfect and complete heavenly code. Allah says:“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favour upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion.” (Al-Maidah:3)

Delicacy and subtlety is another splendor of Islamic Sharia’. To judge this it is enough to have a look on the law of Al- Halaal (The Lawful) and Al-Haraam (The Prohibited) in Islam. Both the terms have a great significance in Islam. Avoiding the details only pointing to lawfulness or being prohibited in what we eat and wear may be sufficient to understand the point. The animals slaughtered for food must be among those that are regarded lawful by their nature to eat their meat. Going a bit farther this quality, it is also a needful to pronounce the Name of Allah over it while slaughtering.

Hayaa (modesty) is the most important part of Iman (Faith) and one of the basics of Islamic Sharia’. It is a barrier to save man from crossing the limits and going to be a transgressor. Once this barrier is rammed then there remains no other obstacle to stop from committing sins. Modern women sunk in the Western civilization find nudity is a way of becoming coquettish and feminine. In Islam nudity severely clashes the trait of modesty. The best dresses bought from a boutique if not prevent from nudity are worthless according to the criterion of Hayaa. As the Prophet, be the peace and blessings upon him, is reported to have said all the manifestations of Hayaa are virtue and goodness. Though man has brought a lot of magnificent changes in the dresses according to the taste of the time but actually dress was bestowed on man by his Lord with two basic aims. One is to cover the private parts of body and the other as an adornment. “O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of piety- that is best. That is from the signs of Allah that perhaps they will remember.” (Al-Araf: 26)

A delicate difference between ‘cleanliness’ and ‘purity’ made by Islamic Sharia’ is found not anywhere else. Using best of the soaps available in the market to remove dirt from our body helps us only to get cleanliness but purity is a different thing which cannot be had through powerful detergents. Sometimes one may be clean but even then impure. More over Sharia’ draws a clear line between minor impurity and major impurity. Not brushing the teeth and having a wash after getting up from the bed or leaving necessary parts of body without wash feeling uncontrolled discharge of minor involuntary seminal or after answering call of nature in toilet one is in a minor impurity but having not taken bath after lecherously discharge of semen either after sexual intercourse or wet dream or a woman’s menses condition is the major impurity.

We do an unjust when we claim monopoly over the Prophethood of Muhammad SAW to be only for the Muslims. Actually his message is universal and a matter of sanctity for entire mankind. Allah said:“And We have sent you (O Muhammad) except comprehensively to the mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.” (Saba:28) The Holy Prophet SAW, characterizing his Messenger-ship, once said: “Each of the Messengers before me was sent to only his own community but I have been raised for entire mankind.” (Bukhari)

A clear guideline regarding relations of man with his Creator, with his own self and with the people around him, bringing peace and assuring well-being, has been given in the Sharia’. It is neither away from the changes occurring in the light of man’s weaknesses and vitalities, nor it overlooks social mutations. Sharia’ is to safeguard the interests of the people and protect them from disadvantages and any harm. It is realistic while accommodating the modern trends which are in consistence with its lofty principles and spirit. Prophet Muhammad, be peace and Allah’ blessings upon him was a timeless personality, as one of his Western biographers, Karen Armstrong has remarked in her book ‘ Muhammad, Prophet For Our Time’, and no doubt the Sharia’ he brought is also timeless, fulfilling the needs of the past and also all times to come.