Monday, Jul 22, 2013

Dubai: The key to solving the myriad problems afflicting mankind today lies in following the example of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), an impassioned Dubai audience heard on Sunday.

Pakistani Islamic scholar Shaikh Tausif Ur Rehman Rashidi told the Ramadan Forum at Dubai World Trade Centre that humanity has “stooped to new lows” and its “salvation lies in reviving the example set by the Prophet”.

Thousands of residents, mostly from India and Pakistan, attended the free Urdu-language lecture titled “Who is Mohammad (PBUH)?”

“There is darkness, grief and killings all around us. Blood has become cheaper than water. Morality is nowhere to be seen. What is the solution to all this?” Rashidi said during the late-night presentation.

“It was Mohammad (PBUH) who brought light against darkness… Isn’t he a hero - the hero - who we should follow to save the day?”

Rashidi highlighted the Prophet’s efforts is fighting a variety of injustices, especially those targeting women.

“The pagans of Makkah used to bury their daughters alive. Today people carry out abortions of female babies saying they don’t want any more daughters - it is the same thing.

“Back then, they used to put up flags on buildings indicating the availability of prostitutes. Today there is also prostitution - and trafficking and murder of young girls.

“Mohammad, peace be upon him, stood up against all this. We need him again; we need the guidance of his example.”

Rashidi added that the Prophet strictly forbade harming women and children, in peace and war. He also encouraged fathers to care deeply for their daughters, saying Allah, the One God, would make such daughters serve as a shield from hell fire.

Rashidi said the Prophet repeatedly stressed to a man who asked him who deserves the best treatment: “Your mother, then your mother, then your mother! And then your father.” Islamic tradition holds that “paradise lies at the feet [service] of mothers.”

The Prophet was even kind-hearted to his enemies, added Rashidi, never taking revenge even when he gained the upper hand. “His nature was to forgive... He was known as Al Amin - the truthful and trustworthy - even before prophethood.”

Rashidi said Muslims are duty-bound to love and follow the Prophet and dispel the “false propaganda levelled against him in some sections of the Western media. O those who insulted him in your articles and cartoons, why didn’t you read about him, how he truly was!

“O Muslims, be sincere in your love for the Prophet. Please tell the world how great he was, explain to them his noble character and teachings.”

Rashidi has sought to propagate authentic Islam based on the Quran and the hadiths, or teachings of the Prophet. He is currently associated with the Islamic Dawah and Guiding Centre in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

Tuesday is the last day of this year’s Ramadan Forum, an annual event featuring a series of Islamic lectures in Arabic. This year it included foreign language lectures in English, Tagalog, Malayalam and Urdu.

The Ramadan Forum, which began on July 12, is organised by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing under the patronage of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.

By Faisal Masudi Staff Reporter

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