THE ORPHAN OF THE ARABIAN DESERTS

Ismail Yurdakok

ismailyurdakok@gmail.com

There were not perennial rivers or lakes. To supplement the water supply from
underground sources in irrigating the oases, Arabian deserts, apart from small
streches in the mountains and oases, was an almost treeless land. The life was
very difficult and the orphan’s life is full of tragical events. Two months ago
before he came to this world, his father had died. There was a tradition that they
used to send new babies to a wet-nurse in a tribe of desert. Mother Amenah obeyed
this tribal rule and she was forced to give his son to a wet-nurse from the Baney
Sa’d tribe. Halemah took the orphan to the desert. Amenah was sheding tears. The
orphan was brought to home town when he was four years old. Mother embraced her
child. Mother and the son, two happiest year of the orphan in his life. Amenah
wanted to visit her maternal uncles, an eleven days journey on the camel, they
arrived Madina city in a caravan.
After visiting mother’s relatives they both were returning but mother died on the
Mecca way. She was buried near road in desert by a few men of caravan. Orphan
Muhammad was crying but no use. Now no father and no mother and he was six years
old. The chief of the caravan
delivered the child to his grandfather.

Abdulmattaleb was a notable man of Mecca and he was 99 years old. After one year
the old grandfather died and the orphan again was sheding tears. Muhammad would go
to another
House when he was seven years old and this is third house in his short life. Uncle
Abu Taleb as a guardian was a compassionate man. The orphan was twelve years old
and he and the uncle went to Damascus with a trade caravan. After five years
Muhammad and the other uncle Zubayr went to Yemen also for trading.

A tradeswoman Hadeyjah had heard the honesty of Muhammad that he was a young
tradesman now. She wanted to employ Muhammad and Muhammad went to Damascus for
Hadeyjah. Hadeyjah gained a good profit from the orphan’s work. After some years
she wanted to marry Muhammad. A good speech from the uncle Abu Taleb in the
wedding ceremony, Muhammad was twenty five years old Hadeyjah was forty. Qasem
was the first son of the family but a few months later small baby died. Especially
Hadeyjah was very sad because God had given a baby after her forty years old but
the baby was not alive now. After five years, the first daughter of the family
Zaynab and three years later the second daughter Ruqayyah and then third daughter
Ummu Kulthum were born. In the tenth year of the marriage last daughter Fatima
was born. Another son of the family, Abdullah, he also died when he was a small
baby.

The orphan was forty years old now and began to tell the early verses of Quran.
The first
verse was about “reading”, God had revealed that “Read with the name of your God”.
This verse was very important that in the future centuries the Islamic
civilisation was born on the principle of this first command of God. In the
Medieval Ages, a brilliant Islamic civilisation was seen in the Near East with
great muslim scholars.

Hadeyjah as a woman is the first muslim in the history who believed in Muhammad’s
teachings. ‘Invite to Islam’ was secretly at the early days. About twenty men and
women became muslim in the first three years. Publicity began to call the people
to the new religion. Meccan polytheist authorities did not want to permit a free
choice between Islam and idolatry to Meccan people. All of the Arabian towns and
villages were in serious economic and political injustice. Although the movement
radically altered the domestic social and political order and also produced a set
of revolutionary ideas but it was an ethical change in the community.

He was not a political man but the conditions made him a valuable statesman and
he established an independent powerful state in Arabian deserts and at the end
anarchy and plunder disappeared. As a carismatic leader, his movement became an
ethical revolution. The mainstay domestic opponents were idolators in Meccan
period (13 years) and hypocrites (10 years) in Madina period. Absolutely he was a
“holy man” but the Prophet had not got an unlimited autocracy. The companions used
to ask/say/criticize him especially in worldly affairs. After the Khandak war,
Meccan Quraysh tribe began to lose control of situation. And there was a “cold
war” between believers and hypocrites, in all of the Madina period. But new
muslims were not in a disintegration position in new religion because they used to
want to leave former lives. Patience: was the real method of muslims from the
earlier days of Islam. The Prophet forgave enemies of new religion even two famous
enemy Wahshey and Khaled b. Waleyd that Wahshey had killed the uncle of the
Prophet and Khaled also a lot of Muslims.

GREAT SYNERGY

Muhammad protected slaves, gave a lot of rights for slaves that he said: “you
should give meals to the slaves what you eat and you should give clothes to them
what you wear.” He appointed Zayd that -he was a former slave- as the chief of
staff, 14 centuries ago, and after
some years also appointed Usamah (the son of Zayd) to the same post, in spite of a
lot of opposite opinions against this appointments. After immigration, the
conditions were heavy but he and his friends did not think that they were exiled
to Madina city (that Madina would become the capital city of the ethical movement)
with a great synergy they went on to invite people. As an orphan and as a father
he saw death of his five children and his wife, his near companions, and poverty
in the long years of his time and insults of idolaters and hypocrites to his
face ...calamities were raining non stop...but there was not any despair in his
life when he was a young man, middle-aged or old man.

NO POLITICAL DISCOURSE

He used to give a short sermon in every friday in the mosque in noons. But no
political discourse or nationalist racist sentences were seen. No sentences like
“this land of our ancestors” or no political slogans like “This is our goal. We
must put our hearts and hands to its achievement.” or “Arabic culture is the
cradle of our civilization” or “defend of Oriental values”. New religion would
not be a geographic movement or only spiritual or only political
doctrine. He emphasized –non stop- man’s journey from darkness toward light.
Freedom and peace for all mankind. There was not a “hate Mecca” propaganda
campaign after immigration to Madina. It was possible to establish a “Free Madina
(city) State” and to build walls, ramparts around the city. But Muhammad was not a
canditate to a(n imperial) post and he did not do these, but ethical movement had
to spread. He had not established a regular army even a permanent body guard team
for himself. Security was important but for all of the citizens that’s why
criminal law codes of Quran had got heavy punishments for prevent ordinary man’s
life, wealth, chastity.

VOICE OF OPPRESSED PEOPLE

He tried to persuade the people of desert for an ethical cleanness. This is a fact
that, a lot of days, he was hungry but he used to give his meal to the poor. In
the Meccan period, the companions learned –under heavy pressure and torture of
Meccan idolaters- that rewards of (Hereafter) must be earned; that nothing is
gained without effort. Muhammad was the voice of oppressed people in these long 13
yearsin Meccan period. He knew that he was not a superman “Say: ‘I am but a man
like yourselves’” (Quran, Kahf, verse, 110); although he did not like to talk much
but he should go to the idolaters and say, now, the realities of God’s power, he
should tell the wickedness of bad behaviours on physical body and soul of man. He
was a calm man, used to live in his own world but, now, he should be a man of
action. After immigration he was 53 years old and defense of ethical behaviours
and establish a good society; this meant working against time and against the
handicap of resistance movement classical Arab aristocracy that they were
accustomed to live in an unethical life. His duty is to train right-thinking men
and right-thinking women.

He did not slapped a woman or a child. To say truths in everywhere, he did not
think “may be to say these sentences is not appropriate for my future or my
career”. This was the first step to make an ethical society that the leader has to
express what is in his heart and mind. To solve the complex problems of
immigration was not easy but the Prophet and the companions were patient
men/women. The demands of believers was clear: in five different times of every
day, Muhammad and believers used to say these sentences (verses of Quran):

Praise be to Allah (God), the Owner of the universes;

The Compassionate, The Merciful;
The Owner of the day of judgement;
You alone we worship, and You alone we want for help;
Guide us to the straight Way;
The way of those whom You have favoured;
Not of those who have incurred your wrath. Nor of those who go astray.(Chapter of
Fatihah)

Eknath Easwaran also would narrate that Gandhi of India also used to repeat these
sentences
(of Quran) every night although he was a buddist.(Easwaran E. “Nonviolent Soldier
of Islam”

The new religion’s aim the unification of spiritual and material powers of
man.“Two muslims (Huzayfah and his father) had been captured by polytheists before
the Bader war (between Muslims and polytheists). Polytheists took (obtained) the
promise from these both Muslims not to fight to polythists in the coming Bader
war, and released both of them. Huzayfah and his father met with Muhammad on the
way to Madina (capital city of Muslims) and they both told what they promised to
polytheists and what is the opinion of the Prophet about this promise. The Prophet
said both of them “Return to Madina, we are Muslims and we perform what we gave
(as a promise) and we want help from God.” (Muslim, K.Jehad wa al-Seyar, B, 35,
Had, 99) We see in this event, (even) in a critical time (before the Bader war)
Muslims should keep their promise that in that days muslims were only 319 men and
they were in need of much person even one person, but God had said in Quran: “O
you who believe ! Fulfill your undertakings”(Quran, Chapter of Maedah, verse,1).
Fulfillment of undertakings, promises and contracts, was a pillar of the Islamic
social, legal and political order. Here it is a proclaimed as an absolute
obligation.The Prophet was not in a hurry to propagate Islam because God had said:
“Therefore, have patience (O Muhammad) as did the masters of determination
Prophets and do not be in haste concerning them...(Quran, Ahqaf, 35).
THE HOME OF TOLERANCE
To perform the rules of God (and teach these to the humanity) was more important.
In a famous event, in the life of the Prophet, the Prophet had gone to Taif city
to invite them to Islam in the tenth year of his prophethood. The Prophet Muhammad
was very sad because his city that he was born and lived 40 years there, had not
accept Islamic principles. He went to Taif city but a tragical event was waiting
the Prophet. The people of Taif stoned the Prophet and the shoes of the Prophet
were full of his blood. He took refuge to a vineyard out
of Taif. And in the teachings of muslims ((Hadith Book of) Muslim, K.Jehad, B,39,
had,111) the angel of mountains came to the Prophet and said: “O Muhammad, God
heard what your nation said/did to you. I am the angel of mountains. God sent me
to you what you command what you want. If you want to close these two mountains on
these polytheists,(I kill (destroy) them)”. The Prophet said: “No, I hope, God
(will) take out (extract,create) from their descendants believers that they
worship only one God and do not recognize a partner with Him.” The Prophet did
not want the kill of polytheists. This is Islam. They say “the home of democracy
is England”, we can say “the home of tolerance was Madina.” 14 centuries ago
Muhammad had put the principles of tolerance to muslims and non-muslims in the
middle of Arabian deserts.

After ten years from the above event, the Prophet had got a powerful army and he
sieged Taif but the people of Taif also refused the offers of the Prophet. He
raised the siege and only prayed for them: “O my God, show (inform) them the true
path”.

Islam/Prophet had adopted the method of persuasion. We see this in the verses,
revealed in the first year of Islam: “Have you not seen (considered) how your God
dealt with
(the tribe of) Aad.(The people) of the many-columned city of Iram. Whose like has
never been built in the lands; And with (the tribe of ) Thamud, who clove the
rocks in the valley; And with Pharaoh, of (the victims impaled upon stakes. They
had transgressed in the land and multiplied corruption in it. Therefore your God
let loose on them the scourge of His punishment; For your God is ever watchful.”
(Quran, Fajr,v,6-14) In the long tragical 13 years of Meccan period, Quran
threated idolaters only with the torment of Hereafter: “Say: “(Quran is) the
Truth from your God”. Now whosoever will, may believe, and whosoever will, may
disbelieve .For the cruels (wrong-doers) We (God) have prepared a fire (whose
flames) will encircle them like the walls of a tent. If they ask for a drink they
shall be showered with water as (hot as) melted brass, which will scald their
faces. How terrible a drink, how evil the resting-place.”(Quran, Kahf, v, 29).

“Therefore,remind, for you are one to remind:You are not at all a warder over
them. But who turns away and rejects faith, Allah (God) will punish him with a
most terrible torment. Surely to Us (God) will be their return, Then it will be
for Us to do the reckoning.”(Quran, Ghashiyah, v, 21-26).

Quran was revealed to Muhammad not to kill the humankind but only for advice:
“And verily We (God) have given mankind in this Quran every kind of parable, so
that they may take heed.”(Quran, Zumar, v, 27); “This is a message to all of the
universes” (Sad, v, 87). God ordered Muhammad (and to us) to forgive the
disbelievers: “(O Prophet), tell the
believers to pardon the errors of those who do not fear the days of Allah(God), so
that Allah may Himself recompense a group for what they have earned. Whoever does
good, does so far himself, and whoever does evil will himself bear its burden. And
afterward to your God you will be brought back.”(Jathiyah, v, 14-15). God knows it
is not easy to leave the old opinions:
“...Dreadful for the idolaters is that to which you (O Muhammad) are calling
them...”(Shura,
v,13). That’s why muslims have to be patient and at the end everybody is free to
choose Islam or not..: “As for him who regards himself as self-sufficient. To him
you eagerly attend.Though it is not your concern if he does not purify himself.
But as for him who eagerly hastens to you, And is in fear of Allah, You are
heedless of him. By no means (should it be so)! (The Quran) is surely an
Admonishment. So let whosoever will, pay heed to it.”(Abasa, v, 5-12)

The Prophet (and the other prophets) was a social man, he was in the streets, in
the fairs, he used to tell Islam in everywhere and sometimes he was unsuccessfful
in this way but
God used to console him: “And whosoever disbelieves,let not his disbelief afflict
you (O Muhammad). Unto Us (God) is their return,and We shall tell them what they
did.” (Quran, Luqman, v,23); “Prophets indeed have been denied before you, and
they were patient under the denial and persecuation till Our (God’s) aid reached
them.”(An‘am, v, 34) The Prophet Muhammad and other prophets were insulted but
they were patient against these: “Even so, whenever a prophet came to those that
were before them they cried: “Sorcerer!” or “Madman!” Have they handed down this
(cry) from one generation to the next?..”( Zariyat, v, 52-3); “Therefore, give
warning (O Muhammad). By the grace of Allah, you are neither a soothsayer nor a
madman. Or do they say: “He is a poet; we are waiting for some misfortune to
befall him?” Say (to them): “Wait if you will; I too am waiting along with you!”
Do their minds prompt them to say this? Or is it merely that they are wicked man?”
Do they say: “He (Muhammad) has invented it (Quran) himself?” Indeed, thay have no
faith. Let them produce a speech like it, if what they say be true! (Quran, Tur,
v, 29-34). We see in these verses: Quran chose a way of dialogue with the
disbelievers and Quran did not avoid to say their claims in its original text
because their answers were ready. That’s why some Islamic constitutional scholars
say it is not a problem in an Islamic state talking of disbelievers on the public
opinion with their arguments because Islam (will) response them with strong
evidences.The Prophet Muhammad solved a lot of problems with dialogue.

In some cases there is another way: “And when you see those who meddle with Our
(God’s) revelations,withdraw from them until they meddle with another topic...”
(An‘am,
v, 68) During the Meccan period, the believers were not allowed to fight; the
idolaters took advantage of this situation,and mocked at the believers, and the
revelations that were being revealed by God. Because of this, God enjoined the
Prophet Muhammad to leave their meeting. Some scholars say: although this
revelation was directed specifically to the Prophet in the first instance, its
implications are applicable to all meetings of blasphemy and evil,and yet have not
the power to prevent it.

On the other hand, Muhammad is not a passivist man. Muslims were in a difficult
position under the administration of cruel idolaters in Mecca city. Even cruels
attacked to the
Prophet when he was praying to his God: “Have you seen the man who forbids, A
servant when he prays? Have you considered if he follows the right guidance. Or
enjoins piety? Think: if he denies the truth and gives no heed, Does he not know
that Allah sees all things?
(Alaq, v, 9-14) But even in this position God had ordered the Prophet not to obey
the idolaters:

“No! Never obey him!..”(Alaq, v, 19) But the Prophet always chose solutions with
non-military precautions. Three famous wars in Islamic history that the Prophet
also entered himself Bader, Uhud and Khandak were defence wars that polytheists
had attacked to Madina. Verses of the Chapter of Mumtahanah (verses, 7-8-9) gives
a general strategy about relations with non-muslims: “It may well be that Allah
will put good-will between you and those with whom you have hitherto been at odds.
Allah is Mighty; and Allah is forgiving, Merciful. Allah does not forbid you to be
kind and equitable to those who have neither made war on your religion nor driven
you from your homes. Allah loves the equitable. Allah only forbids you to make
friends either those who have fought against you on account of your religion and
driven you from your homes, or abetted others to do so. Those who make friends
with them are cruels (wrongdoers)”.

Non-muslim women used to visit and talk to Prophet’s wife and daughters, from time
to time. Muhammad had said to his wife: “when you make soup,(you have to) put much
water and distribute to your neighbours.” In Islamic teaching there is not also
hypocracy: “Therefore, obey not the rejecters.They wish you were pliant, so that
they would be pliant. Nor yield to the wretch who makes many oaths. Detracter,
spreader abroad of slanders. Hinderer of the good, transgressor, malefactor.
(Qalam, v, 8-12)

YESTERDAY’S ENEMY TOMORROW’S FRIEND

Yesterday’s enemy may be tomorrow’s friend: “Good and evil deeds are not
equal.Repel evil with what is better; you will see that he with whom you had
enmity has become your dearest friend. And none is granted this except those who
endure with fortitude; and none is granted this save the owner of great
happiness(Quran, Fusılat, v, 34-35) Indeed a lot of men (like Umar b. Hattab,
Khaled b. Waled, Amr b. As) that they wanted to kill the Prophet, but in the
future years of Islam they became good Muslims and served Islam very much. Quran
expects even repentance of men who did heavy torments to muslims. “Those who
persecuted the believing men and women and never repented will suffer the
punishment of Hell and the torture of burning.”(Quran, Buruj, v, 10) They had
burnt muslims but God wanted these cruel men’s repentance. That’s why Muhammad
forgave Abu Sufyan, Safwan b. Umayya, Wahshey that they had done very harmful
attacks to Muslims in the past years.

He did not establish a regular army even a regular squad for protect himself or
protect the capital city. With a temporary army, they used to defend the capital
city. This Islamic movements’s aim was an ethical cleanness. Quran puts general
principles for ease, peace, quiet of human kind: “And We (God) have enjoined upon
man concerning his parents; his mother bears him in weakness upon weakness, and
his weaning is in two years.Give thanks to Me (God) and to your parents..” “Turn
not your cheek in scorn toward people, nor walk with insolence in the land. For
Allah/God loves not each arrogant boaster.” “Be modest in your walking and subdue
your voice..” (Quran, Luqman, v, 14, 18, 19). Message of Quran was reposeful,
restful, a source of peace of mind. We know that a man came to the mosque and
after praying he urinated in the mosque, although the friends of the Prophet
wanted to beat but the Prophet did not permit this and gave advice to this man.
(Muslim, K.Tahara, B, 30, Had, 98-99).

Muhammad behaved with patiently in the problem of the hypocrites.Hypocrites were

opponent activities to Islam and to Islamic state that they used to say “we are
muslims” but they were not muslims. In spite of their bad actions, the Prophet did
not press them. On the contrary, he used his every effort to keep the hypocrites
in the circle of Islamic state. Hypocrites did not see a torture or daunt from the
Prophet or muslims. After Uhud war the Prophet did not punish the escaped soldiers
(from hypocrites). In the future years, include in the war of Tabuk and in the
wars of the period of four caliphes, this type soldiers were not punished with
capital punishment or the other punishments. But morale punishments were preferred
by Islamic governments. In Quran we see the advice/order of God “Be Patient”
in different 19 verses. In addition to, in another 80 verses “to be patient” is
advised to Muslims. The concept of “Be Patient” made formed Muslims in their
every deeds. They were not passivists but they knew to act/behave calm. The
Prophet had not got any weapon in Meccan period but he was against every
oppression to slaves, women...

Historians have not said much sentences about achievement of Muhammad’s

statesmanship because his ethical revolution overshadowed his the other actions.
He did not establish a dynasty or a totalitarian state or a military government.
He had not got powerful tv-radio stations but new ethical message arrived from Red
Sea to Indian Ocean when he died. The men/women of deserts had understood his
humanitarian advices.