was also one of the first people to become Muslim, one of the greatest scholars, bravest warriors, prominent ascetics and preachers. He was one of those who compiled the Qur’aan and showed it to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Fifthly:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was guided by the teachings of the Qur’aan, indeed his whole attitude was the Qur’aan as the Mother of the Believers ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said. The way our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was in Islam was the same as the way he had been before, but Allaah perfected his character and made it more beautiful. When the first revelation came, [his wife] Khadeejah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said, listing his attributes:
“No, by Allaah, Allaah would never let you down. For you uphold ties of kinship, you help the weak, you give charity to the poor, you honour your guests and you help the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.”
(Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4; Muslim, 160)
Both his companions and his enemies described him in a befitting manner, as he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) deserved, saying that he was honourable, brave, merciful, well-spoken, worshipped a great deal, was honest and trustworthy, and so on.
This was all summed up in the verse:
“And verily, you (O Muhammad) are on an exalted (standard of) character”
[al-Qalam 68:4 – interpretation of the meaning]
His good character and attitude had a great effect, as it was the reason for some of the mushrikeen (pagans, polytheists) coming to Islam.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent some cavalry towards Najd, and they brought a man from Banu Haneefah whose name was Thamaamah ibn Athaal and tied him to one of the pillars of the mosque. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came out and said, ‘Untie Thamaamah.’ Then he (Thamaamah) went to grove of palm trees near the mosque and washed himself (did ghusl), then he entered the mosque and said, ‘I bear witness that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4114; Muslim, 1764).
Sixthly:
With regard to Islam reaching Europe, it did so in several ways, including the following:
1 – The keenness of the Muslims to convey the truth to all of mankind. Andalusia was conquered by Taariq ibn Ziyaad in 92 AH/711 CE, and the conquests in western Europe continued until they reached southeastern France in 114 AH.
2 – People coming from North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia to look for work and a better future.
3 – Westerners bringing some people from other countries, such as the Germans bringing Turks, to work in their country.
4 – The presence of Muslim daa’iyahs (callers, “missionaries”) in those countries.
5 – The conquests of the Ottoman state of part of Europe.
6 – The conversion of some indigenous Europeans to Islam, who then began to propagate Islam.
7 – Trade links between Muslims and Europe.
8 – Conversion of some Europeans to Islam.
9 – Changes in the European intellectual approaches.
10 – Rejection of the church myths which contradict revelation and the adoption of empirical knowledge whose foundation was laid by the Muslims.
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