Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Ethics, Leadership, And .

Helpers was very deep, so sincere, and so strong that theHelpers shared everything they had with their emigrantbrothers. It is an observable fact that the main missionProphet Muhammad bore for Allah was of peace in theworld. The fundamental purpose was for people to makepeace with their Creator, peace with the universe and peacewith other people. The Qur'an, in very plain words,announces the arrival of the Prophet of peace in thesewords: “ O People of the book! Our Messenger has come toyou, Light has come to you from Allah and a book whichshows the truth, and Allah leads the way of peace to thosewho seek His pleasure” (Qur’an 5:17-18). These versesstress that the Prophet was sent to guide the people to theway of peace. Peace is the most common word on thetongue of an observing Muslim's tongue. Whenever twopeople meet, they exchange the greetings taught by theProphet: "Peace be upon you," a wish of peace.Besides stressing the importance of peace, ProphetMuhammad emphasized the importance of education,decreeing education as a must for all people, male orfemale. Compulsory education constitutes the law of theland, but is not an innovation of modernists. Muhammadhad declared it compulsory almost immediately after theestablishment of the city state of Madina. It was in the verysecond year of the establishment of the Madinistic Regimethat his law regarding compulsory education began to beimplemented with all the vigor and force necessary for anemerging state. And like a practical realist, he also warnedhis people to save themselves from the point that not allknowledge is practical and useful (Qahtani, 2000). Aslong as Muslims kept up this breadth of vision, they wereconsidered by the Prophet to be the torchbearers of learningand the standard to judge the various shades of cultures andcivilizations in the world.

Prophet Muhammad acknowledged the equality andbrotherhood of man. He was not content with justpreaching it; he practiced it. One of his closest companionswas a former negro slave, Bilaal; one of his trustedlieutenants was an Iranian called Salmaan; a third, Suhaybof Rome. These followers came from different places,spoke different languages, and were of different heritage.However, in their teacher's company, they were all thesame, equal to each other without distinction (GreatProphet, n.d.).Although Prophet Muhammad delivered numerousspeeches concerning many extraordinary values andprinciples that were misunderstood in the West, the religionof Islam is often described as a source of violence,extremism and terrorism (Ahmad &Yousef, 1998). Thisresearch seeks to examine the values that are manifested inProphet Muhammad’s addresses during his twenty-threeyears of Prophet hood and to evaluate the Prophet’sleadership traits as evident in his public addresses.Statement of the ProblemEvery detail of Prophet Muhammad’s private lifeand public utterances have been accurately documented andfaithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of therecord so preserved is supported not only by the faithfulfollowers but also even by his critics. The publiccommunication of Prophet Muhammad is found in theQur’an, and in the many Adith, or encyclopedias of theword of the Prophet. Many researchers and historiansspend their careers ensuring the people have access to theword and will of Allah and the Prophet’s delivery of thosesayings.Muhammad was a religious teacher, a social

reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, afaithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband,and a loving father–all in one. (Lamartine, 1854) Hefurther explains Muhammad’s appeal thus:Philosopher, orator, apostle,legislator, warrior, conqueror ofideas, restorer of rationaldogmas, of a cult withoutimages, the founder of twentyterrestrial empires and of onespiritual empire, that isMuhammad. As regards all thestandards by which HumanGreatness may be measured, wemay well ask, is there any mangreater than he? (pp. 276-277 )Volumes of books and articles have been writtenabout Prophet Muhammad’s life but the values in his publiccommunication have not been extensively analyzed andexposed especially to the western world. Additionally,Prophet Muhammad’s teachings and values are usuallymisunderstood in the West.( Ahmad & Yousef, 1998)Some westerners describe the religion of Islam as a sourceof violence, extremism and terrorism.(Ahmad & Yousef,1998) This research seeks to examine the values that aremanifest in Prophet Muhammad’s public addresses duringhis twenty-three years of Prophet-hood. The importance ofexamining Prophet Muhammad’s public communicationcannot be understated. Especially in these times, hisleadership abilities, influenced by the extraordinary valueshe demonstrated and espoused, provide a glowing exampleof ethical interactions in secular and spiritual transactions.A closer adherence to the values the Prophet highlightedwill benefit humankind, centuries after their utterance.

Research QuestionsThe purpose of this research is to read and reviewclosely Prophet Muhammad’s public communication whileanswering the following two questions: 1) What are theprimary values in the public communication of ProphetMuhammad? 2) What are the other extraordinary values inthe public communication of Prophet Muhammad?Significance of the StudyThere are literally thousands of instances andutterances where the Prophet shared his publiccommunication. Scholars and researchers havepainstakingly combined them into a compendium of publiccommunication. Additionally, the Qur’an contains hisdivinely guided writings to the people. However, nostudies have shown how the values espoused by theProphet can influence current practices or how importantthe extraordinary values themselves were to the Prophet inpreaching his words.Although volumes of books have been written aboutthe life of Prophet Muhammad and his teachings, to date,however, there is no extensive study about the values in thepublic communication of the Prophet. ProphetMuhammad’s stated values in his public communicationand his leadership style played a significant role in helpinghim accomplish his goal of delivering the message of Islamto the world. Researching these values in his publiccommunication will uncover an important aspect of themethods through which the religion of Islam continues tomotivate and inspire 1.2 billion Muslims around theworld. This research can also inform current secular andspiritual leaders. It will inform them about Islamic valuesinspired from the Muhammad teachings. While the theory

of transformational leadership is widely researched andrespected, the extraordinary values possessed and espousedby Prophet Muhammad can further inform business andpersonal dealings and provide a framework for ethicaldecision-making. The extraordinary values of the ProphetMuhammad’s words are only realized after conducting aclose reading of the Prophet’s public communicationthrough a textual analysis. If modern leaders take ProphetMuhammad as an example to live with, the world will be abetter place to live in.To provide a close reading of the Prophet Muhammad'spublic communication and the values he displayed andspoke of, this research must be situated within previousresearch on the preaching of the Prophet and literature onleadership. Chapter 2 will focus on the review of relevantliterature to this research, including a history of Islamicreligious thought, a discussion of leadership ascharacterized by recent researchers, and the importance ofthe Qur'an and Ahadith which chronicle the Prophet'spreaching. Chapter 3 presents the theoretical frameworkand methodology utilized in this research, that of textualanalysis, and its justification in seeking the answers thisresearch raises. Chapter 4 discusses at length theinterpretation of values espoused in Prophet Muhammad'spublic communication, isolating each one anddemonstrating how it is seen in the text(s). Finally, Chapter5 presents the findings of this research and how the valuesare framed for wider dissemination to benefit allhumankind. Limitations on this study are raised andresolved and implications for further research aresuggested.

CHAPTER IIREVIEW OF LITERATUREProphet Muhammad preached for twenty-threeyears and consequently the writings in the Qur’an and theAdith contain thousands of accounts of his interactions andpublic communication. His public communicationcontained many references to values necessary to followcompletely Allah’s will. In his book, Muhammad in theQur’an, Raza (1982) traced the verses in the Qur’an thatdescribed Prophet Muhammad’s character values: “Andverily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted standard ofcharacter” (Qur’an 68:4). This was not only a claim, butProphet Muhammad had already won from his fellowcitizens of Mecca the recognition of his magnificentmorality inasmuch as he had won the title of Al-Amin, atitle rarely conceded to anybody in the pre Islamic days(Khan, 1998).Raza (1982) quoted from the Qur’an a verse thatdeclared Prophet Muhammad to be a mercy to all thegenerations of men, a worldwide community value: "Wesent you not (O Muhammad), but as a Mercy for allcreatures" (Qur'an, 21:107). This verse contains not only areference to the merciful dealings of Prophet Muhammadwith his opponents but also signifies that the Prophet’sarrival was not only a mercy to the Arabs, but it was also amercy to the whole of humanity (p. 169). Even today, thewritings and words of the Prophet Muhammad are relevantfor all of humankind and his words will remain pertinentand appropriate for the masses indefinitely.The Prophet’s manner of preaching is indeed

unique. By leading through example, He was able to sharethe word and will of Allah through his actions andinteractions. In the Qur’an, the Prophet’s way with thepeople was described in the following verse: "By the graceof Allah, you (O Muhammad) are gentle towards thepeople; if you had been stern and harsh-hearted, they wouldhave dispersed from round about you" (Qur'an 3:159). Andalso: “Most certainly, you (people) have in the messengerof Allah an excellent pattern (of behavior)” (Qur’an33:21). This verse points to the most significant truth and adistinguishing character of the Prophet (Raza, 1982, p.164).Many accounts of his prophethood describe hisinteractions with the people and how they held him inesteemed remembrance. In his book, The Sealed Nectar,(1996). Al- Mubarakpuri quoted Ali ibin Abi Talibdescribing Prophet Muhammad thus:He was the most generous ofheart, truthful of tongue, softestin disposition, and noble inrelationship. He who first seteyes upon him feared him, buthe who associated with himloved him. Those who describedhim would say: “I have neverseen before or after him anyonesimilar to him, peace be uponhim. (Al-Mubarakpuri, 1996, p.493)Character ValuesThe Prophet Muhammad is continuouslyremembered for his dealings with those he shared

the word and will of Allah. His kindness to themand his interest in their well being are typicallymentioned. Michener (1955) wrote aboutMuhammad’s life and his treatment of the poor andneedy, the widow and the orphan, the slave and theoppressed thus:Muhammad, the inspired manwho founded Islam, was bornabout A.D. 570 into an Arabiantribe that worshipped idols.Orphaned at birth, he was alwaysparticularly solicitous of the poorand needy, the widow and theorphan, the slave and thedowntrodden. At twenty, he wasalreadyasuccessfulbusinessman, and soon becamedirector of camel caravans for awealthy widow. When hereached twenty-five, hisemployer, recognizing his merit,proposed marriage. Even thoughshe was fifteen years older, hemarried her, and as long as shelived, remained a devotedhusband. (pp. 68-70)According to Sharma (1935), "Muhammad was thesoul of kindness, and his influence was felt and neverforgotten by those around him" (p. 12).Mahatma Gandhi,well-known for his compassionate character to all people,described the character of Muhammad similarly to howothers describe him:I wanted to know the best of onewho holds today's undisputed

sway over the hearts of millionsof humankind.I became morethan convinced that it was notthe sword that won a place forIslam in those days in thescheme of life. It was the rigidsimplicity, the utter selfeffacement of the Prophet, thescrupulous regard for hispledges, his intense devotion tohis friends and followers, hisintrepidity, his fearlessness, hisabsolute trust in God and in hisown mission. These and not thesword carried everything beforethem and surmounted everyobstacle. (Young India, nd)Carlyle, one of the greatest thinkers of the pastcentury, described Prophet Muhammad’s sincerity thus:the great man's sincerity is of thekind he cannot speak of: nay, Isuppose, he is conscious ratherof insincerity; for what man canwalk accurately by the law oftruth for one day? No, the greatman does not boast himselfsincere, far from that; perhapsdoes not ask himself if he is so: Iwould say rather, his sinceritydoes not depend on himself: hecannot help being sincere!(1840, p. 59)Carlyle’s glowing description of the Prophet,based on his research of the Prophet’s interactions

with others and his desire for them to do accordingto God’s will, continued describing the ProphetMuhammad as:a silent great soul, he was one ofthose who cannot but be inearnest, whom nature herself hasappointed to be sincere. Whileothers walk in formulas andhearsays, contented enough todwell there, this man could notscreen him in formulas; he wasalone with his own soul and thereality of things. . . Suchsincerity, as we named it, has invery truth some thing of divine.The word of such a man is avoice direct from nature's ownheart. Men do and must listen tothat as to nothing else, - - - allelse is wind in comparison.(1840, p. 71)Carlyle described Prophet Muhammad’s fidelity inthe following situation with his wife Ayesha thus:It is a boundless favour. Henever forgot this good kadijah.Long afterwards, Ayesha hisyoung favourite wife, a womanwho indeed distinguished herselfamong the moslems, by allmanner of qualities, through herwhole long life; this youngbrilliant Ayesha was, one day,questioning him. “Now am not I

better than kadijah? She was awidow; old, and had lost herlooks: you love me better thanyou did her?” “No, by Allah!”answered Mahomet: “no, byAllah! She believed in me whennone else would believe. In thewhole world I had but onefriend, and she was that!.(1840, p.76)It would have been easier to repel the temptation ofthe devil than to give way to the ego of a young, loving,brilliant and beautiful wife like lady Ayesha. Why not lether hear the soft soothing balm of flattery, it will not harmanyone. Even the soul of Khadija, the mother of theFaithful, would look light-heartedly at the trick. There isno shamming, no innocent "white lies" with Muhammad.Traits of this kind show us the genuine man (Deedat, 1990,p. 24).Finally, Carlyle described Prophet Muhammad’sfaithfulness and interest in the people as:a man of truth and fidelity; truein what he did, in what he spakeand thought. They noted that healways meant something. A manrather taciturn in speech; silentwhen there was nothing to besaid; but pertinent, wise, sincere,when he did speak; alwaysthrowing light on the matter.This is the only sort of speechworth speaking! (1840, p.69)Community Values:

Again, it is important to remember that the publiccommunication of the Prophet was meant for those whowere able to hear it when he delivered the message, and forthose who would, for centuries later, read it or hear it fromothers. Shaw (1936) described what the modern worldwould be like under the leadership of Prophet Muhammad:He must be called the Savior ofHumanity. I believe that if a manlike him were to assume thedictatorship of the modernworld, he would succeed insolving its problems in a waythat would bring it much neededpeace and happiness. (p. 8)The accomplishments of one man over the space oftwenty-three years are indeed impressive. He preached areligion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moralcode, initiated numerous social and political reforms,established a powerful and dynamic society to practice andrepresent his teachings and completely revolutionized theworlds of human thought and behavior for all times tocome. Carlyle (1840) wrote, "how one man singlehandedly, could weld warring tribes and wanderingBedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in lessthan two decades" (pp. 287-288).The Prophet is the face and voice of Islam, providinga clear and direct path to Allah and His will. ResearchersGibbon and Ockley, explaining the Prophet’s importance tothe spread and devotion of followers to Islam wrote:I Believe in One God, andMahomet, an Apostle of God' isthe simple and invariable

profession of Islam. Theintellectual image of the Deityhas never been degraded by anyvisible idol; the honor of theProphet has never transgressedthe measure of human virtues;and his living precepts haverestrained the gratitude of hisdisciples within the bounds ofreason and religion. (1870, p. 54)Muhammad was nothing more or less than a humanbeing. But he was a man with a noble mission, which wasto unite humanity on the worship of one and only one Godand to teach them the way to honest and upright livingbased on the commands of God. He always describedhimself as "a servant and messenger of God," and so indeedevery action of his proclaimed to be.Speaking on the aspect of equality before God inIslam, Sarojini Naidu said:It was the first religion thatpreached and practiceddemocracy; for, in the mosque,when the call for prayer issounded and worshippers aregathered together, the democracyof Islam is embodied five times aday when the peasant and kingkneel side by side and proclaim:“God Alone is Great”. I havebeen struck over and over againby this indivisible unity of Islamthat makes man instinctively abrother. (1918, p. 169)

Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life andteachings of Muhammad have survived without theslightest loss, alteration or interruption. They offer the sameundying hope for treating humankind's many ills, whichthey did when he was alive. This is not a claim ofMuhammad's followers but an inescapable conclusionreached by a critical and unbiased history.Researchers Gibbon and Ocklay (1870) continuedwith their praise of the Proph

establishing a state. Military leadership requires firmness and resoluteness and political leadership requires clemency, forbearance and wisdom. Possessing these qualities for both kinds of leadership is rare in the same individual. Historically, Prophet Muhammad differs from other po