The author currently lives in Istanbul. He has received both a traditional and a modern education and has written many books on different aspects of Islam as a religion and as a civilization.
The information presented in this book has been collected from the most reliable and earliest possible scholarly sources, which are thoroughly cited in footnotes. The sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) have been chosen only from authentic collections of hadiths. For those who desire to obtain further information, the Arabic sources have been provided.
Excerpt from the translator’s preface:
When I was asked to translate this book from Turkish to English, I hesitated. Nevertheless, after reading it carefully, I became convinced that both English-speaking Muslims and non-Muslims alike would enjoy it and would benefit from it by learning an aspect of the Prophet Muhammad’s life that usually has been—intentionally or unintentionally—ignored. The aspect being referred to in this work is his mercy, which is without doubt the prevailing theme of his entire life. Today, both Muslims and non-Muslims need to know that no single other figure in history can approach the mercy exemplified in the life of the Prophet Muhammad. They also need to know that his example is especially relevant in a world that has become universally more and more dominated by selfish and materialistic life styles. This book is a call to mercy both in our social relations as well as in our interactions with our natural environment through a profound reevaluation of the exemplary life of the mercy to all humanity, Prophet Muhammad.
This book is an excellent introduction to the life of Prophet Muhammad, written by a well-known Turkish author who has dedicated his life to learning, practicing and spreading the teachings of the Prophet. The author opens a modest window for those who desire to take a look at the life of a man whose example is followed today by one-fifth of the world’s population. No other historical figure has influenced humanity and human history more than Prophet Muhammad. He instructed people in one of the major world religions, and he laid the foundation of one of the brightest civilizations the world has known during his lifetime. Yet, according to the author, these are not the most important features of the Prophet’s life. Rather, the book demonstrates that the greatness of the Prophet Muhammad arises from the fact that he brought the highest moral principles to every aspect of his life and social relations. Thus, he touched the hearts of the poor, the needy, and the oppressed; he was able to elevate these people to a level where they were able to be instructors for all of humanity, at that time and for all time to come. His love, his compassion, and his mercy encompassed not only humans, but also animals and even planets. He was a prophet remarkable for his humane character and for his love that encompassed all.
In the Holy Qur’an the title that given to Prophet Muhammad by Allah is “the Mercy for the Worlds”. The human world is just one of the worlds created by Allah, “the Lord of the Worlds”. The endless and eternal compassion of Allah, known by the names the Most Compassionate and the Most Merciful, among others, manifested itself to humanity through the life of His Messenger. This compassion never decreased in the course of his conquest of Arabia and the defeat of his enemies. On the contrary, his enemies benefited from his mercy on many occasions, as history has recorded. He never struck a child, slave or a woman, and strongly prohibited such behavior; he also never refused help to those who approached him in need.
Loving Prophet Muhammad is a part of the Islamic faith. As all Muslims are required to love Allah, so too are they required to love His Messenger. Without this love, faith is unacceptable. And their love for Allah and His Messenger must be above and beyond their love for anything else. Muslims display their love and respect for Prophet Muhammad by honoring him whenever his name is mentioned by saying: Peace be upon him, or in Arabic sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This is a part of the etiquette in their relationship with the Prophet. As one learns about his life, this love naturally grows in one’s heart, eventually filling it completely.