The Prophet of Mercy Website

James A. Bill (professor of government and director of the Reves Center for International Studies at the College of William and Mary in Virginia) writes - 'By the turn of the century, for the first time in history, the number of Muslims (those who practice Islam) will have surpassed the number of Christians in the world.

The earliest interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims occurred near the beginning of Muhammad's prophethood. The Prophet and his companions were greatly oppressed by the polytheists of Makkah. Muhammad sent some of his followers to seek refuge with the Negus of Abyssinia - a righteous and just Christian king. He listened to the Prophet's emissary with great respect and awe, especially the Qur'anic description of Mary and Jesus. This description led the king and his subjects to affirm that this indeed was God's revelation, and gladly grant the Muslims asylum they sought.

Robert Jay Goldstein is not a "Jewish terrorist." After all, neither God nor his prophets ever condoned the murder of innocent human beings. If a Jew engages in terrorism, the blame falls on him, not on his religion. That much we can all agree on. But that is where our paths diverge.

In August 2002 ,Goldstein was arrested near his home in St. Petersburg, Florida. In his possession were 40 weapons, 30 explosive devices, a list of 50 mosques and a detailed plan to bomb an Islamic school.

Islam came like a flood of light – it illumined the entire environment. Its charm so captivated many that they moved into its fold – but those who, for a variety of reasons, did not enter its fold, were also spell-bound. They could not help admiring its beauty, splendour and grandeur. They confessed its greatness and paid tributes to it. Their evidence is important in one respect: it comes from those who are not within it, from many who have, on the whole, been rather antagonistic; but they too had to admit its unique features, its serenity that casts its spell on all and sundry.

Let us consider some aspects of the Islamic view of the relationship between men and women.

In its view of family, Islam recognizes the woman as the mother, the man as the father. It is a partnership in which the man and woman share equivalent responsibilities and are entitled to equivalent rights.

 At a time when the rest of the world, from Greece and Rome to India and China, considered women as no better than children or even slaves, with no rights whatsoever, Islam acknowledged women's equality with men in a great many respects. The Quran states:

"And among His signs is this: that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest and peace of mind in them, and He ordained between you love and mercy. Certainly, herein indeed are signs for people who reflect." [30:21]

Prophet Muhammad said:

Islam, in its legislations, aims to produce a well-balanced individual in every way: psychologically, spiritually, and materially. Many of Islam’s injunctions are specially intended for producing peace and spiritual contentment by providing verbal remembrances for a Muslim’s every activity.

When a person’s thoughts are occupied with worldly concerns and his mind is full of worry about the future and all the problems of life, he becomes plagued with stress and mental pressure that impairs his productivity and makes him less able to deal with his problems.

In today’s modern life, values have turned upside down, family life, that was always the very heart of society is attacked just as much as many other handed-down traditions.

Yet, neither socialism nor any other "isms" will ever be able to oust what has been implanted into human nature, the need of social ties and the warmness of ties of blood that Allah has ordered us to maintain.

 Now let's bring some more focus on how the husband should treat his wife as God has asked Muslim men to:

It is not demeaning if the husband shares in the responsibility of house matters, such as the mending of garments or things of the kind. Also it shows good manners that the husband helps his wife in the house, during times of necessity, such as when she is sick, pregnant, has just gave birth or similar to that. For Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) used to fix his shoes, and used to be helpful to his wives.

Allah has ordered us not only to pray for our parents, but to treat them with ultimate compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they preferred us to themselves.

When they reach old age, Muslim parents are treated mercifully, with even more kindness than they were ever. Mothers are particularly honored; Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said that 'Paradise lies at the feet of mothers'.

Allah says in the Qur'an says, in Surrah BaniIsra'il:

"Your Lord (The Creator) has ordained that you worship none but Him, and that you be kind to the parents."