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- Another unique accomplishment of the Prophet Muhammad,
peace and blessings be upon him,
was the fact that he revolutionized human rights
in a way that no other human being ever has
in all of human history.
(gentle music)
This achievement of the final Prophet,
Sallah Allahu Aliyhi wa Salam
was not simply one where he espoused certain virtues,
but rather he instated a flawless system
that would actually ensure that these values were not left
on the shelf in theory,
but would actually be able to manifest
and unravel on the ground and be imbibed in application.
He, Sallah Allahu Aliyhi wa Salam,
fraternized with all people
despite their differences,
and he purged people's prejudices.
And he said in his famous farewell sermon,
"O people, your Lord is one,
and your father, Adam, the father of humanity is one.
There is no distinction for an Arab over a non-Arab,
nor for a non-Arab over an Arab,
nor for a white skinned person over a black skinned person,
nor for a black skinned person over a white-skinned person,
except by virtue of their righteousness."
By that he created a universal brotherhood,
regardless of lineage, regardless of racial orientation,
regardless of financial standing.
As Arnold Toynbee famously says in his book,
"Civilization on Trial,"
"The extinction of race consciousness
as is the case between Muslims,
is one of the most outstanding moral achievements of Islam."
And in the contemporary world he says,
"There stands a crying need
for the propagation of this Islamic virtue."
And very similar to this are the words of Malcolm X,
may Allah bestow mercy on his soul.
When he finally went to the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca
did he recognize the equality
that only Islam could make possible
on the ground in reality,
in living color between the human race?
As for wherever this virtue is absent,
either by those who do not know Islam
or do not live up to its ideals,
we find concepts like equality and justice
and brotherhood as superficial cliches many of times,
many of times they are just verbiage, that is weaponized
for political gains or social maneuvering.
But unlike those who employ such double standards
with these lofty virtues,
we find the Prophet Muhammad,
peace and blessings be upon him,
operating at the height of his power
with the dignity of every last human being in mind.
With dictates like,
"Pay the laborer his wages before his sweat dries,"
the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him,
was able to eradicate so many of the financial inequities
that were condoned in his time.
As a result of his blessed ministry,
you find some of his closest companions,
like Abu Dhar, may Allah be pleased with him,
dressing identically to his servants
to the point that people who did not know him
would be able to discern between him and his laborers.
We find 'Arwa ibn Muhammad,
a famous early governor of Yemen,
and a grandchild of one of the Prophet Muhammad's disciples,
enters that land, the governorate of Yemen
and he gives them the utmost financial transparency
and declares from the beginning,
the people's right to hold him accountable
regarding the finances of his position.
He said, "Oh, people of Yemen, I am entering your town now,
I am entering your lands now owning only this camel of mine.
If the day that I exit I exit with more than this camel,
then know that I am a thief."
And it was not even just human rights
that he revolutionized, peace and blessings be upon him.
We find other companions like Abu Dardaa,
radi Allahu Anhu
saying on his deathbed to his camel,
"Oh, camel do not prosecute me in front of God
for you know full well I never caused you
to carry burdens that were beyond your capacity."
And so all of these monumental improvements
in the standards of living for human beings
and even for animals, and had we had the time
we would discuss even for the environment
and its protection, were just some of the blessed fruits
and unique accomplishments of the Prophet Muhammad,
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
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