In the Name of Allah, Most Kind, Most Merciful

Khutbat-e-Bangalore 1416/1995

he Lectures, which are starting today, are spread over five days. Though it shall be my endeavour to ensure each lecture is complete in itself, I am afraid it will not be possible to have one lecture independent of the others. These lectures are all links in a golden chain and will invariably be interconnected. An underlying central theme will unite every lecture with the others.

Why Study the Seerah?

Today, I wish to state some preliminary points, and this has to do with the purpose of these lectures. Of course, the simple and straightforward purpose is an attempt at studying the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be on him). What then is the significance of such an attempt? Fundamentally, it is important to ask ourselves: why study the Prophets life in the first place? And what is the relevance of such an attempt in the contemporary world? This will ensure we remain on the right track throughout the course of these lectures.

Practice, not Precept Alone

As most of you are aware, I am not, by nature, inclined to be content with relating the virtues of a thing and then return back pleased and well-pleasing. Our objective is and should be to give ear to the virtues of a noteworthy thing and then make every attempt to live by it. If any precept does not invite to action and does not provide an impetus to its practice; if it succeeds in elevation of thought but fails in imparting energy to its implementation, then, I think, these attempts will not serve our purpose sufficiently.

Where does the Salvation of Mankind Lie?

Here, I am obliged to draw your attention, even as I attempt to speak about the Prophets seerah, to the fact that the guidance sent by Allah through His revelations and the last version of this guidance conveyed through the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad Mustafa (peace be on him), unto mankind without resorting to any apologia or flattery, or prejudice, or committed thinking, in the broad light of day and in the light of knowledge, keeping society and the prevalent situation throughout the world in mind that this true religion, this way of life, this solid faith, this ideology, these foundations of character, these principles of social interaction that have reached us through Prophet Muhammad, these and these alone, are the means by which human beings throughout the world can achieve felicity. In case we find some useful material in books of yore, the Quran says that it has indeed come only to confirm all that is right and true, repudiating the interpolations and enshrining within it only the abiding truths. The Prophet has been sent with the true religion that it may prevail over all other religions, ideologies and systems of life. This domination is not one of compulsion or of the sword, but domination on the basis of knowledge, thought, reason and logic and vindicated by experiences and facts. This is a very major difference. When we say that this system of life which the Prophet brought must prevail over all others we do not speak out of prejudice or in an attempt to undermine another persons religion; nor also, because they have a particular religion which we dont. No! we say this with full sympathy and concern. It is with the best interests and well-being of mankind at heart that we announce to the world at large that your salvation lies in treading the path shown by Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him).

Concerning the purpose of these attempts at studying the seerah, it is important to note that, as has become our practice today, a study of the seerah has been reduced to looking at the Prophets life as something miraculous. Both, the speaker and the audience, look up to the Prophets life and achievements as a thing unique and miraculous. I wish to make clear that a study of the Prophet must not be undertaken to emphasize the miraculous, but to unravel the practical and to bring out the example that it sets out for us to follow. Here lies the basic difference in approach.

Miracles are Proof of Prophethood, Not its Purpose

Undoubtedly, every prophet has been given miracles, which he demonstrated to his people. However, miracles are only proof of prophethood, not its purpose or object. Prophets dont come to perform miracles, they produce miracles only to get those who refute them to acknowledge their prophethood. Syyedna Musa (peace on him) did not come to this world to just defeat the magicians, nor was Syyedna Isa (peace on him) sent as a great physician to give life to the dead or sight to the blind. Instead, he came to cure the blindness of the heart and to give light to the souls. Whoever the prophet, they all came to show mankind, through their own example, the right faith and right action. A prophet is necessarily sent as an exemplar. Concerning the Prophet Muhammad the Quran has clearly stated and repeatedly confirmed that his life is the best example for all of us: Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar
Al-Quran, sura: 33, verse:21

The Quran has further amplified the point by stating that following in the footsteps of the holy Prophet is a means of attaining the love of Allah and a reason to become beloved to Him: Say, O! Prophet, If you love Allah, follow me. Allah will love you
-Al-Quran, Surah Baqarah

Following or emulating someone requires the person to be perfect and ideal. The life and person of a prophet is perfect in every respect and the most ideal. But, to treat every action of a prophet with great admiration and as something super-human and beyond emulation by other humans is wrong and points to a fundamental flaw in the approach to the study of the seerah. The proper approach is to examine the seerah from the point of view of wanting to live by the example. We have been expressly commanded by the Quran to follow the Prophet and obey his commands. The Prophets life has been called uswa: a thing worthy of emulation. Even about the earlier prophets the Quran declares, They were rightly guided and you must follow their path. In view of the above what emerges is: to live by the example demonstrated by the Prophet, and not merely to beautify him, is the true object of undertaking any study of the Seerah. Those who are in this gathering to learn about the Prophets seerah must intend the same, too. This far we discussed the purpose for which a study of the seerah must be undertaken.

The Greatest Sedition Facing Muslims Today

The greatest mischief unleashed against the Muslim community today, world-over, is a concerted and well-planned conspiracy aimed at demonizing the Muslim, distorting the teachings of Islam and casting aspersions on the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Our adversaries have realized that the love Muslims have for Prophet Muhammad is one of the major factors that has frustrated their designs aimed at making them disown their faith and their value-system. The enemy has realized that unless this admiration and affection for their Prophet is not diluted there is no way they can achieve their goal. Hence no effort is being spared at severing this bond.
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Knowledge and Sound Reasoning, not Emotion Alone

However, the feeling of love and fondness most of us have for the Prophet is largely inherited. In most cases these sentiments are not based on an analytical study. It is such of us who are in constant danger. Danger of being misled by those whose express job it is to sow doubts in the minds of the believers. For, whenever the affection and regard for the Prophet does not emanate from a close and objective examination of his life, rather is the product of emotional stimuli, the prospects of such people eventually falling prey to the snares set out for them by the enemies of Islam is very real and constantly looms large over their head. In our country, India, even prior to independence, such efforts have been attempted on a large scale by the British rulers, the Christian missionary and by the promoters of the Shuddi movement.

A Concerted, Global Conspiracy

Today, however, this seditious effort is not confined to any area or attempted at random, but a well-planned international conspiracy to shatter the bond that holds the Muslims together: their unflinching attachment to the holy Prophet. Be it in the Americas or in Europe or Israel, or in India or even in those countries that declare themselves to be Muslim States, there seems to be no letting down in the attempts at slurring the image of the gracious Prophet, distorting the teachings of Islam and the laws of the Shariah and disfiguring the Muslims. So fierce is the onslaught that those who are outside the pale of Islam feel a sense of revulsion and keep away from anything Muslim or Islamic, while those within the fold keep gradually falling into doubt and despair, growing more and more vulnerable each day. In such precarious timesin an age which abounds in the likes of Salman Rushdie, Taslima Nasreen, Arun Shourie and many similar writers, analysts and media experts, all part of the grand force pitted against Islam, its last Prophet and the Believers in their message in such trying times, any attempt at portraying before Muslims and non-Muslims alike the true picture of the Blessed Prophet, his glorious achievements, his exalted character, his elegance and the splendour of his simple life-style, in the light of knowledge and reason; and every effort at correcting the distortions against Islam and bringing out the true character of the Muslims every such endeavour is most welcome and blessed. May Allah crown all such activity with success. What I am articulating before you today is the outcome of the intense anxiety in my mind; which keeps increasing every time I learn of the activities of these inimical forces and their effects on contemporary society which are reflected in the widening discontent and in the types of queries that keep surfacing every now and then. I personally feel that, earlier to now, if there was anything wanting in the efforts at disseminating the teachings of the Prophet it wasnt very detrimental. Today, however, there is an acute need to propagate the Prophets life and his achievements far and wide, in every nook and corner of the world, before Muslim and non-Muslim, so that every mind may be impressed with the true picture. This demands a concerted campaign and it must be set in motion

Not to Fall Prey to Provocation

I referred, earlier, to the terms knowledge and sound reasoning. I have used them on purpose. If anybody speaks ill of the Prophet there can be no doubt he is the worst kind of being in the world. Yet, what must be understood is that these foul words are being uttered to deliberately provoke Muslims; some of who, in a fit of anger, will act in haste, leading to their being branded as terrorists. The enemy provides the spark and your nature is to get inflamed. The combination proves deadly and comes in very handy for those, watching from behind the curtains, waiting to brand the whole community terrorists. It is against the interests and the wisdom of any community to play into their hands.

They are the sagacious who can comprehend the designs of the forces couched behind the curtains. It is a demand of the faith, too, that a Believer be able to discern the subtle moves of the enemy and render them ineffective. The Prophet has said: Fear the sagacity of the believer; for he observes with the light of God. Today we are witnesses to how falsehood and perverted ideals are being presented in the garb of knowledge and literature. It is the dictate of common sense that we reply to every such assault on the Prophet and Islam with erudition and sound reasoning. Allah be praised! We are quite capable of this and have nothing to fear. We are sure falsehood will be de-robed and Truth will emerge victorious. Reality will soon become evident. Primarily, we need to equip ourselves with knowledge of the Prophets seerah, the message that Islam gives to mankind and the true character of a Muslim. And these three cannot be separated. The ultimate Muslim character is none else than that of the Prophet; Islams foundation rests on the Quran and Sunnah; and the life of the Prophet is the embodiment of the two. Be it the Prophets seerah or Islam or the ideal Muslim, remove the veil from any one, all three come to the fore at once.

Ground Realities are Most Effective

Let me once again reiterate that a study of the seerah must be pursued with the aim of modeling ones life on its pattern, rather than treat it as something holy and beyond human endurance. This attempt will inevitably lead to a manifestation of the Noble Messengers seerah in our own lives. For, let it be clearly stated that realities on the ground and facts that are readily visible can never be overshadowed by any propaganda however powerful the media. Let us take an example: Many years ago in the city of Makkah a bondsman of Allah goes about proclaiming: Say, there is no God save Allah, and you will achieve felicity. In the streets and in the by-lanes, in the markets and in the fairs of Okaz and Dhulmijaz, in the midst of the pilgrims in Mina and Arafah, in every nook and corner he keeps announcing, O people, proclaim that there is no deity save Allah and you will attain success. He did not stand up to rouse passions and stir people to fight. One day he stood atop a hillock and called upon the citizens of Makkahwhat a powerful and effective way of communicationsaying, I am an open Warner. Look, I am standing atop a hill and you are below. I am able to see you as well as what lies behind this hill. Now, if I tell you that right behind the hill a band of people are lying in wait to attack your city, will you believe me? The Makkans replied in one voice: O son of Abdullah we have never found you lying. We will certainly accept what you say. Then this bondsman of Allah, one who is from among them, says, with a deep sense of concern: O people, you are surrounded by all manner of danger. By forsaking the worship of one God and taking to the worship of thousands of deities and by denying the life hereafter you have invited upon yourselves deadly troops. You are unable to see them from where your position, but from where I stand I am to see you as well as the destructive force that has gathered around you. You are in great and imminent danger. Come, let us proclaim that there is no god but Allah, and save ourselves. Even in this early period there was one agency that made its presence felt immediately. They doggedly kept hounding this bondsman. Wherever this bondsman of God went, this force trailed him. They called him names, declared him insane, alleged he was no more than a magician and a soothsayer. Not content with this, people who hearkened to listen to his message were told to stuff their ears with cotton wool. At times this agencythe media of the time in its full force kept close on his heels and at times went ahead of him warning people not to pay heed to this young man who they maintained had gone mad. As if this were not enough, the same force advised people to raise a racket whenever this young man recited verses from the Quran. Today, it is this same Abu Lahabi media which keeps surfacing in newer and more developed forms in the US, UK, Israel, India and so on.
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But the world soon witnessed that the media of Abu Lahab failed miserably when faced with the truth of the Prophets message and the sincerity of his personal practice. Facts and truths have their own force and power. They exist by themselves and can confront any falsehoodpropaganda or otherwise. Those who firmly hold on to truth need never fear the media onslaughts against them. The solemn and composed approach of the Prophet gradually gained ground. He never confronted his uncles Abu Lahab or Abu Jahlwho were in the forefront of the persecutors, nor did he ever enter into an argument with his detractors. Yet truth prevailed. Verily! Truth has come, and falsehood has vanished. Falsehood is by nature bound to perish. (Al-Quran) This is a good example of how we should, ourselves, react. Today, when we see all around us attempts, albeit in the guise of freedom of speech and expression and liberal thinkingthrough the print and electronic media, utilizing the wiliest and cleverest of mindsat ridiculing Islam, the Holy Prophet and Muslims we mustnt feel overawed or overreact. If it had transpired earlier that the media of Abu Lahab failed, it can happen again. We must keep to propagating and inviting people to the truth, unmindful of the rebukes and the willful instigation. If we were to do this, there is every reason the flame of Mustafa will radiate in all its fullness. These were some important introductory points I preferred mentioning before proceeding with the lectures proper. Now let us go back 1489 years, when in the city of Makkah, in the house of Abdullahs widow, in the lap of Amina bint Wahab, that child was born whose name is Muhammad, who is also called Ahmad. Who could have known that in the Arabian peninsulacut away from all sidesin the family called Banu Hashim, in the progeny of Adnan, from whom descended Qusay and Quraysh Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd Munaf would be born. He was not born into a princely or aristocratic family, nor in the home of a philosopher or scholar. His background was not in any way such that could give credence to fears that he nurtured unfulfilled ambitions, entertained hopes of fame or in any way cherished to be in the limelight, or yearned to occupy offices of power. No. He hadnt any such antecedents. In case he did aspire to anything it could have been, like the rest of his clan, to become a merchant.

The World in which the Prophet was born

History is witness to the situation that prevailed all the world over during the era the Prophet was born. Humanity was, by and large, enveloped in darkness; the unity of the Lord was a belief so diluted false gods had occupied center-stage. Mankind had strayed far away from equality and justice. In the very country in which the child Muhammad had taken birth there was of course the concept of the Almighty God, but an Almighty who had resigned his roles to lesser gods. This is Latt, this Manaat and this Uzza. Says one of the Makkans, after he had embraced Islam, that: We would put together beautifullooking stones and then select the best among it and commence worshipping it. If nothing was available, we would gather sand and shape it into a mound and then pour goat s milk on it to make it look firm, and then begin circumambulating it. Mankind had disgraced itself no end.

Christianity: Hopes Shattered

Christianity, which could have become a source of inspiration, solace and guidance to mankinds yearning in these vile times, soon slid into a morass after which it metamorphosed itself; unrecognizable as the monotheistic faith preached by Jesus (peace be on him). What emerged was a polytheistic faith combining within itself material from Greek and Roman idolatry. Such were the elements that were kneaded into the dough that the true monotheistic doctrines, which were the beliefs of Jesus himself, existed only as an iota of salt in the mountain of polytheism. Judaism had strayed from its path. A multitude of Christian sects arraigned themselves against each other and engaged themselves in vain polemics and hair-splittinghow I hope I had the opportunity to narrate these pointless debates that ravaged between the numerous Christian sects during their period of decadence and how we, the Muslims of this age, are engaging ourselves in similarly useless and insignificant discussions. We fail to discern that when our imperial masters, the British, came to rule over us they conspired so cleverly that they succeeded in pitting one group of Muslims against another, forever engaged in silly, nay, ludicrous, hair-splitting. The scourge of Qadiyanism and their attempts at nullifying the injunction of jihad are all the creations of the British masters who knew that to rule over a people it was first necessary to ensure the subjects never found time or energy to join forces with each other to regain their freedom.

Iran: at the edge of the Precipice

Iran was split between the philosophy of Mani and Musdaq, and nearly reached the end of the precipice. On the one hand, Musdaq claimed that wealth and woman are everyones common property as much as air, water and fodder. They could be freely made used of by all men. So great was the prevailing vulgarity and sexual perversity that even incest was most common. Mani, on the other, advocated total celibacy as a sure means to end the perennial clash between good and evil. If the chain of procreation were to be cut off, he asserted, and the consequent growth of humanity stopped, there would be no cause or effect of good and evil. To perpetuate the rule of the kings and their dynasties, they would be assigned divine powers and a share in the divinity itself. While the poor peasant was compelled, due to the repressive taxation, to relinquish his field and take to the hills, the aristocrats and the nobility had drowned themselves in luxury to such extent that each would crown himself with head-gear alone costing millions.

India: The scourge of Manu and the Caste System

And our country, India, which has been the repository of ancient knowledge and wisdom, had also slid into pantheism and polytheism. The Vedas were interpolated at will to suit the priestly and ruling classes. The age of Manu was the darkest period in its history. A woman was treated as chattel. Free -sex was given every impetus. Such was the spread of permissiveness that naked women even began being worshipped by men in the nude and vice-versa. Well! Who amongst us is not aware that the sex- organ of the biggest deity became an object of worship. And the other tragedy of this ancient land is the religious sanctity given to the caste-system. The Manushastra claimed that God Almighty, in His wisdom, had created four different types of human beings. One He created from his mouth, the other from his chest, the third from his stomach and the fourth from his feet. The job of the first, the Brahman, was to preside over religious rituals and collect offerings from devotees. This was the highest form of creation. The role assigned to the second type, the Kshatriya, was to rule and govern, and carry out military expeditions; while the task of the third
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was to pursue agriculture and trade. The duty of the fourth class of people, the Shudras, was to serve the above the three sections. Look how a few intelligent people to serve their own interests divided Gods creation into such classes that from the time of ones birth, he was either automatically granted respect or debased; one was born to be served while the other born to serve for no virtue or fault of theirs. The whole of mankind was arrayed in two rows: masters and slaves. If a Shudra as much as touches a member of the upper classes, his fingers were to be chopped off. He was the property of the Brahmin who could do with him whatever he pleased. The Shudra was a mere slave; he could own no property. Whenever a Brahmin wished he could take away whatever a Shudra possessed. The Shudra could not touch the scriptures, let alone read it. He was not even permitted to listen to it. This was exclusively the prerogative of the Brahmin. How succinctly the Quran puts it, They write the books with their own hands and then say this is from God. How far into details can I go. You are all aware of the oppressive caste-system and are witness to some of its effects that are evident to this day. Without doubt, God had never desired such stratification of the human race. Allah had not dismembered humanity into the aforementioned parts. He hadnt granted any human being respect or rejection depending on the house into which he was born. Rather, as the Prophet has conveyed to us, Every child is born pure (and equal).

Buddhism: Overpowered and Diluted

Buddhism, which propagated against these false beliefs of the brahminical order, had to confront the might and the vile of the Brahminical class. While they succeeded in forcibly driving out a majority of the Buddhists, the priestly class, through a clever strategy, incorporated Buddha himself into their pantheon: knowing one more idol would make no difference to the millions already being worshipped.

China

In China, too, the creed of Confucius had also undergone a sea -change. Nowhere does one discern a bright spark. The whole world was sunk in pagan practices and in the quagmire of polytheism. In such desolate, desperate and trying times there come forth from the valley of Makkah a person called Muhammed who was to shape the destiny of the whole world. (Allama Iqbals poem) From the lap of Amina rose the child who was the answer to Syeddina Ebrahim and Syeddina Ismails prayer and the fulfillment of Jesus prophecy. A few thousand years ago, the Quran tells us, Syeddina Ebrahim and Ismail (peace be on them), had beseeched Allah, saying: Our Lord! Send amongst them a messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Thy signs to them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, and purify them: for Thou art the Exalted in Might. Al-Quran, Sura 2: verse 129. Similarly, some six hundred years ago, Jesus had told his people: I have many things to tell you; but you shall not be able to bear them now. After me a Prophet will come from the peaks of Faran, and he will tell you the whole truth.

The Quran echoes this same prophecy in these words: And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Taurat (which came) before me, and giving glad tidings of a messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad. Al Quran, sura 61, verse 6 It was these prayers and prophecies that found their fulfillment in the lap of Aminah. Who could have guessed what was to transpire. But you are all aware of the events as they unfolded themselves thereafter. There is no point in going into many details.

Why Prophets?

Since time is running out, let me take you toward another important point: Why is there a need for prophets. God has given us intelligence no doubt. Man by nature is mutamaddin, i.e.: . He is a social animal. Ibn Khaldun defines man as madiniyat ut tabaa city-dweller by nature. That means, man doesnt live all by himself. He likes to live among others of his own kind. There is nothing wrong in it. He needs food, a home to live in, medicine when sick and protection in the face of external aggression. Such is man that even if he were to be given enough grain (without having to sow or harvest it), he will still need a device with which to powder the grain, a receptacle in which to knead it to dough, a stove to cook it, and a plate to eat from. So, he now needs to call in the blacksmith and the carpenter and the stove-maker and the water-carrier. There is no department or trade or calling toward which man can afford to show indifference. A tiger has enough strength and power to confront its enemy; small animals too have been given protective gear. Poor man, though. He has pretty little but his hands to ward of problems and overcome enemies. How much can mere hands be of use, anyway? But, with the aid of the intelligent mind given him he can manufacture tools and armament to stave off threats to his physical security and to help provide for himself in this world. Yet, he cannot single-handedly, design, develop and manufacture all that he needs even to defend himself. He needs the involvement of many similar hands to achieve it. Hence the desire to live together. But the problem with man is that he refuses to concede to others rights, which he demands from others for himself. He does not recognize his duties and his limits. Yet, he wouldnt think of living all by himself. Husband and wife share a relationship, so do children and parents, neighbour and neighbour, traders and artisans, factory owners and workersin every department of life, every person is in some way dependent on the other each of them sharing a mutually beneficial relationship. But, none wishing to contain himself within limits and willing to concede to others their due. Thus it was with the Brahminical class who had garnered all privileges to themselves to the exclusion of the Shudras; and so too was it with the Persian despots who perpetuated their rule at the expense of the masses and all this in the name of religion. From here proceeds the need for a ruler and judge who is wise, all-knowing, all-seeing; who is just and above all our shortcomings, whose dictates are to be obeyed and whose sovereignty acknowledged; in whom we repose trust and through whom we derive our rights and duties, responsibilities and privileges. But who is it who determines these limits and privileges. Should we trust the human mind to legislate in these matters. Human minds by nature are prone to selfishness and self-centeredness. If tomorrow parliament was to pass a Bill on land -ceiling, the very legislators will, in advance, guarantee their property is protected by any means. He will cleverly provide some loopholes in the law through which he can retain every inch of his own property.
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Thus, the only conclusion forced upon us is that man can never, if left to himself establish justice.

Whither Peace and Security?

The biggest problem confronting the world today is the dearth of peace and goodwill all around. When one mans self-interest clashes with anothers, peace and security are the first casualties. (Here you can appreciate the significance of the expressions Islam and Iman: Islam derived from silm, meaning peace; and Iman from aman, connoting security from fear). A prophet is sent for these very reasons: to establish justice between people, to delineate the boundaries where rights terminate and duties begin, and to ensure the establishment of peace and goodwill. He is from among you and comes to you with a body of knowledge from God Almighty. He comes not to say what he thinks appropriate, but what he has been commanded to say by the Almighty. His message is the message of the Creator, who created us and created him. It is not his thinking that he propounds. Whatever he speaks he speaks not of his own accord except whatever Allah reveals to him. Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him. Al-Quran, sura 53, verse 3-4.

Can man be Indifferent to Prophets

Man can never be indifferent towards prophets and the message Allah has sent through them. To ensure every human being gets his due share of freedom, and none transgresses his or her limits, and to establish justice and fair-play between men, to establish peace and amity in this world: the Lord on High sends His commandments and guidance through a truthful, trustworthy and sincere servant of His; whom we call a prophet, who does not adulterate it with any of his own ideas. This then is the role of a Prophet and the reason for sending him amidst his own people. Whatever little I have stated about the anarchy prevailing in the world at the time of the Prophets birth was also on account of this clash of rights and duties; and the unwillingness of men to submit themselves to a Law that treated each person equally. Whatever the ruling class quoted in justification of their privileged status and attributed it to divine sources was entirely their own creation.

The Forthcoming Lectures

In the forthcoming lectures we will learn more about the child whose birth in Makkah we discussed in this lecture. We shall study how he brought about peace and security, justice and fair-play, brotherhood and amity on this earth and how he demolished the artificial differences between high and low, and how he guarded the rights of every individual, and how he emancipated humanity from bondage to others of their own kind and ushered them into service and bondage of the One True Godthe Lord of the universe. He, Muhammed, gave to mankind what was its due and took from it only what was due from it. InshaAllah, I hope God will help me complete the task in hand in the days to come. The task is daunting. When one casts his sight on the comprehensiveness, the loftiness and the breath of the Prophets seerah and the message brought by him, one appears as if standing before a vast ocean amazed and bewildered, pondering over what to say and what to avoid. Which pearl shall I pick and which I leave behind. This ocean full of rubies and pearls and emeralds before me and my capacity so limited! All that can be said is that even a handful from a huge heap of grain, or the few drops of water that a birds beak can pick up from an ocean is all that is our share. If we can even partake of as much as that we are truly fortunate. Come, let us pray that Allah make the forthcoming lectures as well as this session beneficial to all of us.
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The Best Reply to the Challenges of our Times

I conclude by reiterating that a presentation of the Prophets seerah in terms of ideology, faith, practice and as a practical model of life is the surest reply to the biggest challenges of the age. Remember! Truth will prevail and propaganda will be blown away in air.

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