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It
is a well-known fact that the Prophet of Islam (PBUH) was the supremely
successful man in the entire human history. But he was not just a hero,
as Thomas Carlyle has called him. According to the Qur’an, he was the
best example for all mankind. He has shown us the way of achieving
supreme success in this world.
By
studying the life of the Prophet we can derive those important
principles which were followed by the Prophet (PBUH). In short, the
Prophet of Islam was a positive thinker in the full sense of the word.
All his activities were result-oriented. He completely refrained from
all such steps as may prove counter-productive.
1.
First Principle: To begin from the possible
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This principle is well explained in a saying of Aishah. She said:
"Whenever the Prophet had to choose between two options, he always
opted for the easier choice." (Al-Bukhari) To choose the
easiest option means to begin from the possible and one who begins from
the possible will surely reach his goal.
2.
Second Principle: To see advantage in disadvantage
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In the early days of Mecca, there were many problems and difficulties.
At that time, a guiding verse in the Qur’an was revealed. It said:
"With every hardship there is ease, with every hardship there is
ease." (94:5-6).
This means that if there are some problems, there are also opportunities
at the same time. And the way to success is to ignore the problems and
avail the opportunities.
3.
Third Principle: To change the place of action
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This principle is derived from the Hijrah. Hijrah was not just a
migration from Mecca to Medina. It was to find a more suitable place for
Islamic work, as history proved later on.
4.
Fourth Principle: To make a friend out of an enemy
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The prophet of Islam was repeatedly subjected to practices of antagonism
by the unbelievers. At that time the Qur’an enjoined upon him the
return of good for evil. And then, as the Qur’an added, "You will
see your direst enemy has become your closest friend" (41:34).
It
means that a good deed in return of a bad deed has a conquering effect
over your enemies. And the life of the Prophet is a historical proof of
this principle.
5.
Fifth Principle: To turn minus into plus
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After the Battle of Badr, about 70 of the unbelievers were taken as the
prisoners of war. They were educated people. The Prophet announced that
if any one of them would teach ten Muslim children how to read and write
he would be freed. This was the first school in the history of Islam in
which all of the students were Muslims, and all of the teachers were
from the enemy rank. Here I shall quote a British orientalist who
remarked about the Prophet
of Islam: He faced adversity with the determination to wring success out
of failure.
6.
Sixth Principle:
The power of peace is stronger than the power of violence
When
Mecca was conquered; all of the Prophet’s direst opponents were
brought before him. They were war criminals, in every sense of the word.
But the Prophet did not order to kill them. He simply said: "Go,
you are free." The result of this kind behavior was miraculous.
They immediately accepted Islam.
7.
Seventh Principle: Not to be a dichotomous thinker
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In the famous Ghazwa of Muta, Khalid bin Walid decided to withdraw
Muslim forces from the battlefield because he discovered that the enemy
was unproportionately outnumbered. When they reached Medina, some of the
Muslims received them by the word "O Furrar (O deserters!)"
The Prophet said "No. They are Kurrar (men of advancement)."
Those
Medinan people were thinking dichotomously, either fighting or
retreating. The Prophet said no. There is also a third option, and that
is to avoid war and find a time to strengthen yourself. Now history
tells us that the Muslims, after three years of preparation, advanced
again towards the Roman border and this time they won a resounding
victory.
8.
Eighth Principle:
To bring the battle in one’s own favorable field
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This principle is derived from the Ghazwa of Hudaibiyya. At that time,
the unbelievers were determined to engage Muslims in fighting, because
obviously they were in an advantageous position. But the Prophet, by
accepting their conditions unilaterally, entered into a pact. It was a
ten-year peace treaty. Until then, the meeting ground between Muslims
and non-Muslims had been on the battlefield. Now the area of conflict
became that of ideological debate. Within two years, Islam emerged as
victorious because of the simple reason of its ideological superiority.
9.
Ninth Principle: Gradualism instead of radicalism
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This principle is well-established by a hadith of Al-Bukhari. Aishah
says that the first verses of the Qur’ân were related mostly to
heaven and hell. And then after a long time when the people’s hearts
had softened, the specific commands to desist from adultery and drinking
were revealed in the Qur’an. This is a clear proof that for social
changes, Islam advocates the evolutionary method, rather than the
revolutionary method.
10.
Tenth Principle: To be pragmatic in controversial matters
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During the writing of Hudaibiyyah treaty, the Prophet dictated these
words: "This is from Muhammad, the Messenger of God." The
Qurayshi delegate raised objections over these words. The Prophet
promptly changed the word and ordered to write simply Muhammad, son of
Abdullah.
These
were the principles through which the Prophet of Islam gained that
success which has been recognized by historians as the supreme success.
In
the end, I would like to repeat those ten principles of success:
1.
To begin from the possible
2. To see advantage in disadvantage
3. To change the place of action
4. To make a friend out of an enemy
5. To turn minus into plus
6. The power of peace is stronger than the
power of violence
7. Not to be a dichotomous thinker
8. To bring the battle in one’s own
favorable field
9. Gradualism instead of radicalism
10. To be pragmatic in controversial matters >
This
must be taken into note that these 10 are not the only principles which
we derive from the holy life.
In
fact The whole life of our prophet is set of rules and is our
obligation is to follow him in each and every walk of life.
Yet
these 10 rules are required mostly where we are in conflict with other
people where we need some guidance from the life of our prophet.
Compromising
is a different thing and Hikmat is different.
Let
us go through & follow the life of our Beloved Prophet Sallallahu
alaihe wasallam
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