Prophet Muhammad SAW: Bringer of Enlightenment and Symbol of Peace

Prophet Muhammad SAW possessed a gentle heart, earning him deep affection from those around him. His unique qualities set him apart, leading to his title as a "bringer of enlightenment and a symbol of peace." Prof. Quraish Shihab notes that even extensive discussion cannot fully capture the Prophet's greatness, stating, "No matter how skilled and extensive the discourse about the Prophet SAW, even if we use our entire lives to discuss him, there will still be aspects beyond our knowledge... we can only say that he is the most glorious human being on this earth, in this universe."

Shihab shared a simple yet profound example of the Prophet's enlightenment. When his son passed away, causing the sun to eclipse, the Prophet, despite his grief and tears, stated, "The sun and the moon are verses of God, signs of God's power. They do not eclipse because of the death or life of someone. If you witness this, then hasten to remember Allah SWT, hasten to pray." This aligns with the Quranic verse in Al-Ahzab (33:45): "O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of good tidings, and a warner."

The article also highlights Prophet Muhammad SAW's commitment to peace through his actions during the Hudaibiyyah treaty. He agreed to remove "Bismillah, Allahi, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim, and Muhammad, Rasul, Allahi" from the treaty document, despite initial reluctance from companions like Ali bin Abi Thalib and Umar bin Khattab. Umar questioned why they should accept something that insulted their religion. The Prophet responded, "I am the Messenger of Allah," and proceeded to remove the seven words, even canceling the umrah pilgrimage to secure the agreement. Shihab concludes, "Therefore, there is no reason to say that Islam does not desire peace. There are two kinds of peace: peace within oneself and peace with others."