Our very own Imam Mustaqeem shah recently led the Time for Reflection at Holyrood.(Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh).

(Text)

Time for reflection Wednesday, 14th November 2007

In the name of Allah, All-compassionate, All-merciful.

I greet you all with the universal greeting of Islam - assalam alaikom, peace be with you.

I am grateful and honoured to be given this opportunity to introduce the Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, to you. He came at the end of the chain of approximately 124 thousand Prophets of Allah, starting in the beginning of time with Adam, and 570 years after Jesus PBUH, all with one goal, to guide mankind back to the straight path of their Creator.

In this way I will, hopefully, fulfill my duty to Scotland and its leaders as I believe it is crucial to recognize the place this man holds in the hearts and minds of Muslims. I believe this will facilitate peace not just here in Scotland but worldwide as people appreciate the true Character of this great man and everything he stood for. With understanding will come the reluctance to ignorantly insult simply for the sake of it, under the disguise of ‘freedom of speech'.

Muhammad is dearer to Muslims than their own selves and anything in the world.

He (pbuh) says:

"By Him in Whose Hands my life is, none of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father and his children and all mankind."(Hadith)

"O believers! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud when talking to him as you speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds should come to nothing while you do not even perceive it." (Qur'an, 49.1).

He is a role model for Muslims and a mercy for humanity. By studying his life we can understand this man, by doing so we can relate to the Muslim community of Scotland and beyond in a better way.

I suggest a read of Martin Lings' book "Muhammad".

To make this job easier I shall quote;

Michael H. Hart in his book The 100, a ranking of the most influential persons in history:

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels."

George Barnard Shaw, in "The genuine Islam, Vol,No 8,1936:

"I have studied him the wonderful man... he must be called the Saviour of Humanity."

I shall conclude by presenting his following sayings:

1-"He who has been ruler over ten people will be brought shackled on the Day of Resurrection till justice loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction."

2-"None of you will have faith till he wishes for his brother what he likes for himself."

3- "Facilitate things to people, and do not make it hard for them and give them good tidings and do not make them run away."

May the mercy of God bring us closer to Him and closer to one another; may He help us love for others what we love for ourselves, amen.