ISLAMIC PUBLISHING

A result of a some diligent work, rather than presenting the life of Prophet Muhammad blessings and peace be upon him, the book instead brings to the fore his exemplary character; and searching for an answer to the question of how a perfect Muslim ought to be, seeks to present the characteristics of an ideal Muslim. In the words of the Quran, he is the uswat ul-hasanah, the quintessential example. His sublime morals reflect onto the beauty of his spirit and appearance. His deeds of worship, manners, propriety, courage and compassion all mirror his characteristic of being the quintessential example; so too his social relations and his conduct towards orphans, the elderly, women and the underprivileged. Offering the magnificent character of Prophet Muhammad blessings and peace be upon him- in a bouquet, the exceptional work by Osman Nuri Topbaş is set to tie afresh our bond to the Prophet blessings and peace be upon him.

The most important things that give one s life a meaning are taqwâ (piety) and sincerity. Taqwâ is to curb one s fleshly desires and to strengthen the spiritual potential through prayers to God and doing good deeds for humanity. Hence taqwâ is required in every field of life, in our belief, worship, in our dealings with others, even in our every breath.

The greatest fruit of the blessing of faith is to look at creation with the eyes of the Creator and to approach all creatures with love. This elevates the life of a human being to higher levels and causes him or her to enter a world of forgiveness, mercy and love. One can then spread love and mercy to all creation. Mercy is a fire that is never extinguished in the heart of a Muslim. In this world, it is the distinguishing essence of being human which leads us through the heart to union with our Lord…. A believer is always on the first line of every struggle which bestows peace to the hearts of others.

The author, Osman Nuri Topbas, currently lives in Istanbul. He has received both a traditional and a modern education. He has written many books on different aspects of Islam as a religion and as a civilization. One recurring theme in his writings bears on the importance of mercy, love, and care in our social relations as the very fabric of an authentic Islamic way of life. This book, written in a climate of love for the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), reflects this mercy, while discussing the most distinguished characteristics of the Prophet s way of life and his morality. It intends to guide people to kindness and a refinement of the heart, thus aiming to help them gain happiness in this world and the Hereafter. The information presented in this book has been collected from the most reliable and earliest possible scholarly sources, which are thoroughly cited in footnotes.

Our every breath consists of an exhalation and an inhalation, each succeeding the other without pause. This process occurs naturally and most often without any consciousness on our part. Every breath is essential to our continuation; with each one our life is prolonged. Yet one day this will stop; at that time, at the moment of our final breath, what will be the state of our hearts? In this elegantly written book, Ustadh Osman Nuri Topbas provides us with an important reminder of the necessity of preparing for death. Every living creature will die, even the most dogmatic sceptic will concede this. Yet not every creature will have spent its life in preparation for the final moment, for the last breath.

Islam invites all human beings and jinns. Everyone, regardless of race, skin color, gender, or national origin can become a Muslim. Islam classifies humanity according to their responsibilities and rights, and it considers that only two human nations exist: believers and unbelievers. It is by no means logical that a system sent for the bliss and salvation of humanity by Allah Whose mercy encompasses all creation be allotted to a handful of people while all others are left devoid of this bounty. This situation contrasts with the Rahman and Raheem attributes of Allah. The Noble Quran and the messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said: God Almighty shows mercy to those who show mercy. Show mercy to those on earth so that those in the Heavens shall show mercy to you. (Abu Dawud, Adab, 58/4941; Tirmizi, Birr 16/1924; Ahmad bin Hanbal, II, 160) (O Muhammad!) We sent you not but as a Mercy for all creatures. (Al-Anbiya` (The Prophets), 21:107)

Altruism is the greatest sign of real love. Depending on level of his love, the lover regards the sacrifice for the sake of his beloved as pleasure and inevitable duty. For this reason, it is required for a believing heart to encompass and mercifully embrace all of the creation out of respect for the Creator. A serious campaign of infāq and service is needed in the contemporary world in which brotherhood sentiments have weakened, peace and tranquility in the society have been lost, and hate and enmity have intensified. In addition to these ills of contemporary society, the ever present social and economic crises and the submission of individuals to the material world hinder financial sacrifices, one of the most neglected aspects of our faith. In this regard, the first subjects to address are our duties through zakāt, infāq, and social institutions of mercy such as waqfs or endowments.