Ali Zohery, Ph.D.
Prophet Muhammad had one and only one mission entrusted on him by Allah. That mission was to bring the message of love, peace, harmony, sincerity and truthfulness to all human being. He did this with perfection and became the role model for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. There are several instances during his lifespan on earth that practiced this sincere quality of his. Since he was so faithful to the course of abiding by the tenets as laid down in the Qu’ran, he did not hesitate to avoid temptations of any kind from people who were intending to dissuade him from his duties. Rahman ( 1992) narrates an incident that shows how steadfast the Prophet:
The Quraish went to Abu Talib, the Prophet’s uncle, and asked him to stop his nephew from preaching this new religion, which was against their ancestors’ religion. Abu Talib was distressed and told the Prophet of the grievances of his people, whereupon the Prophet said: “ O my uncle! By Allah, if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandoned this course, I would not abandon it until Allah has made it victorious, or I perish therein. ( p. 133)
These are some of the examples to show that the Prophet was dedicated to sincerity and truthfulness. He decided to disagree with his ancestor’s religion in preference to the one that Allah has sent him here on earth to fulfil. This is the act of someone who has decided to be sincere and honest about his mission and he does not shy away from executing that mission even if it means being at loggerheads with his family.
There are also a number of verses in the Qu’ran that shows that Allah favors those that are sincere as opposed to that that are dishonest:
“ Say, O Muhammad: ‘ No reward do I ask of you for it. I only ask of him who will, to adopt the Way of his Lord.” ( 25:57)
“ Say, indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Rubb of the Worlds. No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am the first ( among you) of the Muslims.” ( 6: 162-163).
“ I am for you a trustworthy messenger, so serve you God, and obey you me. I ask of you no wage for this; my wage falls only upon the Lord of the Worlds.” ( 26: 107-109, 125-127,143-145,162-164,178-180)
To adopt the ways of Allah means that everyone has to be sincere and honest with each other and with the Lord. Today we have leaders who say one thing and do the other. We have leaders who have decided to be insincere before their people. They promise during the election campaigns to one thing and then decide to do the other when they are elected to the office. The fact that nowadays politicians have decided to be insincere and hypocritical to their people goes contrary to the preaching of Prophet Muhammad and the will of Allah.
Prophet Muhammad was only out in this world to do his service to Allah and not demand any reward whatsoever from anyone. This what Gullen ( 1995) concludes about Prophet Muhammad and his sincerity:
The Prophet never thought of material gain or even spiritual reward in return for their services. Their aim was not even paradise-they strove only for God’s good pleasure and to see humankind guided to the truth. The Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings was the foremost in this respect. ( p. 48-49)
This day and age we have leaders who have showered themselves with material gains as reward to the services they have rendered to people. Material gifts and money seem to be the elements that are used to enrich people that have done services to you. If these rewards are not given the interpretation will be the beneficiary is a very selfish person. This is what has contributed to vanity and pride in our society. Another thing that has affected many people nowadays is the fact that sincerity and honesty are being rewarded with punishment. People are paid to discount your sincerity and with this kind of situation it becomes difficult to decipher truth from falsehood.
PROPHET MUHAMMAD LEADERSHIP
