Dominance of the Quran over previous Scriptures

Allah, The Almighty, revealed the Quran to be His last, all-embracing Scripture containing the final manifestation of the Divine Law. This necessitates that it has to be safeguarded from the mischievous hands of men and from all corruption. This protection has been a reality from the time the Quran was revealed until today and will remain so forever. It contains no additions or deletions. It has reached us by so many chains of transmission that it is impossible for them to have conspired on a lie. It has been recorded and memorized innumerable times.

There has been no change in its text over time, not even in a single letter. Some of those who have committed it to memory cannot speak Arabic; nevertheless, they recite it exactly as it was revealed.

Allah has guaranteed the preservation of the Quranic text, as He, the Most Exalted, Says (what means): "Indeed, it is We who sent down the Quran and indeed, We will be its guardian." [Quran 15:9]

Allah also Says (what means): "And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." [Quran 6: 115]

As for the previous Scriptures, they were for a limited duration of time. Allah gave human beings the responsibility of preserving them, and they lost them through corruption, alteration, and concealment. Allah Says (what means):

"Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light. The prophets who submitted [to Allah] judged by it for the Jews, as did the rabbis and scholars by that with which they were entrusted of the Scripture of Allah, and they were witnesses thereto." [Quran 5:44]

In the Quran, Allah Almighty informs us that the Torah was changed; He Says (what means):

"So woe to those who write the "scripture" with their own hands, then say, "This is from Allah," in order to exchange it for a small price. Woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn." [Quran 2:79]

Being the final, all-encompassing and preserved against any change, the Islamic Law abrogated all the previous Scriptures which sustained human interpolations. Abrogation generally takes place with regards to secondary matters of law. As for fundamental principles, like the Oneness of Allah, The Most Exalted, the prohibition of idolatry, and the fundamentals of worship – matters that form the basic call of all the Messengers, may Allah exalt their mention,  they are not subject to abrogation.

The Law that came with Prophet 'Eesa (Jesus)  abrogated part of the Law that came with Moosa (Moses) . Relating the words of Prophet 'Eesa  to the Children of Israel, Almighty Allah Says (what means): "And I have come confirming that which was before me of the Torah and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden to you…" [Quran 3:50]

The Islamic Law is lasting, remaining suitable for every place and time, and embracing the goodness of the previous manifestations of the Law. Allah Says (what means): “And We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth, confirming that which preceded it of the Scripture and as a criterion over it." [Quran 5:48]

The Quran is different from the previous Scriptures in the following respects:

(1)  The Quran is miraculous and inimitable.  Nothing similar to it can be produced by human beings. Allah challenged both humans and jinn to produce the like of the Quran, as in the verse (which means): "Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants." [Quran 17:88]

He, The Almighty, further challenged the disbelievers among the Arabs to produce even one chapter similar to the Quranic chapters, Saying (what means): "And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a chapter the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful." [Quran 2:23]

(2) After the Quran, no more Scriptures will be revealed by Allah.  Just as the Prophet Muhammad  is the last Prophet, the Quran is the last Scripture.

(3) Allah has taken it upon Himself to protect the Quran from alteration, to safeguard it from corruption, and to preserve it from distortion (as stated in the meaning of [Quran 15:9] previously quoted.  On the other hand, the previous Scriptures suffered alteration and distortion and did not remain in their originally revealed form (as mentioned above in [Quran 4:46]).

(4)  The Quran, for one, confirms early Scriptures and, for another, is a trustworthy witness over them [Quran 5:48].

(5)  The Quran abrogates them, meaning it cancels the rulings of the previous Scriptures and renders them inapplicable.  The Law of the old Scriptures is no longer applicable; the previous rulings have been abrogated with the new Law of Islam.

Accordingly, Allah does not accept any religion except Islam as a way to His Pleasure, as He Says (what means):

"And whoever desires other than Islam as religion never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers." [Quran 3:85] - islamweb.net

CHAPTER 42, ASH-SHURA (THE CONSULTATION)

Introduction

The Consultation is a fifty-three verse chapter revealed in Mecca. The name is derived from the word consultation that is mentioned in verse thirty-eight describing the characteristics of a community of believers. Being a Meccan chapter revealed before the migration to Medina it concentrates on the fundamentals of faith, in this case, God’s all prevailing power and wisdom. Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, is reminded that he cannot force people to believe and that he is only required to deliver the message.

Verses 1 – 9 All power belongs to God

The first two verses are Arabic letters. Ha Mim, Ayn Seen Qaf. They are five letters from among various combinations of fourteen letters that open twenty-nine chapters of the Quran. God did not reveal what meanings they may or may not have.  Usually after these letters we learn something about the Quran. In this case, God says that He sent His revelation (Quran) to Prophet Muhammad, as He sent revelation to other messengers before him.

The heavens almost break apart because of their awe of God’s majesty.  The angels glorify and praise God; while begging forgiveness for the people on earth. As for those who worship other than God, God is watching what they do, and Prophet Muhammad is not responsible for them.

Thus this Quran is revealed in Arabic.[1]  It warns the residents of Mecca and surrounds that there will be a Day of Judgement when some will go to Paradise and others will go to the blazing Fire. If God wanted He could have made you a single nation, but He did not. He takes into His mercy those who desire His guidance and the wrongdoers have no one to help them. God gives life to the dead, and He has power over all things.

Verses 10 – 19 The truth is made clear

God judges all disputes. He makes mates for you from among yourselves (and the animal kingdom too) in order to multiply your numbers. The keys to the heavens and the earth belong to Him. And He gives abundantly or sparingly to whomever He wills.

God has ordained for you, the same way of life (Islam) that he ordained for Prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Those who associate others with God find it difficult to accept what you (Prophet Muhammad) invite them to. Long ago they were one religion but became divided out of rivalry. So invite them back to God.

Tell them (Prophet Muhammad) that you believe in what God has revealed and say that there is no need for argument, the truth has been made clear and those who refuse do so out of stubbornness and worldly desires. Those who argue with the truth will have a terrible punishment. God has sent down the Quran in truth and justice so what will make you understand that the Hour is near. It is only those who do not believe in it that want to hasten its coming. Those who believe in it are fearful.

Verses 20 – 31 A harvest in the Hereafter

Those who desire Paradise in the Hereafter will have their rewards increased many times over, but those who desire the luxuries of this world with no thought of the Hereafter will have what they desire but they will have no share in Paradise. Or have those that they worship besides God ordained a religion God does not know about? They think they are living a great life, free of morals and manners, but on the Day of Judgment their punishment will be a painful one. Those who believe and do good deeds will be in the gardens of Paradise. This is good news and a great bounty. Prophet Muhammad asks for no reward for this good news, and those who do good deeds will be repaid many times over.

How can people say Muhammad has invented a lie about God? God blots out falsehood and vindicates the truth. He knows what is in the hearts, accepts repentance, answers prayers, and gives more to those who believe and do good deeds. If God sent plentiful provision for everyone some would act insolently, so He provides in due measure. He sends relief after people have lost hope and He spreads mercy.  The creation of the heavens and the earth and the living creatures are among His signs. He can gather them together at any time. You cannot escape God and He is your only Protector.

Verses 32 – 43 Forgiveness is better

Ships sailing on the seas are among His signs. They drive through the ocean like mountains, but He can bring them to a standstill or sink them with violent winds. Whatever pleasure you have been given is no more than a fleeting enjoyment of this worldly life—what is in the Hereafter is better and more lasting.  It is for those who believe and put their trust in Him, avoid major sins, forgive when they are angry, establish prayer, determine their affairs by consultation, spend from what God has given them, and defend themselves from tyranny.

The retribution for an evil act is one like it, but forgiveness and reconciliation are better. But those who avenge themselves are not blamed. The blameworthy are those who oppress others and act with injustice. They will have a painful punishment.

Verses 44 – 53 Only deliver the message. God retains all control

There is no protection for those God sends astray.[2]  They will face the punishment and hope there is a way back. But they will remain in lasting torment and have no allies to help them. So respond to your Lord before this Day comes and the punishment cannot be averted. But if they turn away Muhammad, you are not responsible; your duty is only to deliver the message.

God does not speak to human beings except through inspiration, or from behind a veil, or through a messenger such as the angel Gabriel. And so We have revealed to you Muhammad, an inspired book, this Quran. You did not know of this Book and faith before, but We made it a light by which to guide whoever We choose. And Muhammad, you guide to a straight path, the path of God, Who owns everything in the heavens and on the earth. Everything will return to God. -islamreligion.com

FOOTNOTES:

[1]Revelation from God was not only revealed in Arabic; previous revelations were revealed in the language of their prophets. Islam tells us that revelation was sent to all nations. The final revelation, the Quran, was revealed in Arabic because Prophet Muhammad was an Arab and his first audience were Arabs. The miraculous nature of the Quran also has to do with Arabic.  The Arabs had a keen appreciation for language and its structure and recognized upon hearing the Quran that it must be from the divine. The Quran’s literary challenge still stands today.
The majority of the world’s Muslims are not Arabs, but the Arabic language unites them across borders and nationalities.

[2]God gives everyone many chances to believe. But if His guidance is continually rejected, disbelief covers a person’s eyes, ears and heart. However there will always be another chance, right up until the moment of death.

Avoiding anger

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar  that Allah's Messenger  said: "No one does anything more excellent in the sight of Allah, The Great and The Glorious, than restraining his anger, seeking to please Allah." [Ahmad and At-Tirmithi]

Murphy's Law is commonly known as: "Anything that can go wrong, will." However, what about the emotional and physical state of the person for whom everything that can go wrong has gone wrong? For example, when something goes wrong in an organization, it is the leader who is held responsible. If the mistake is costly, whether in time, money or reputation this puts stress and pressure on the one in charge. This will undoubtedly lead to a degree of anger based on the magnitude of the results of the mistake.

Anger is a natural response. But, is it avoidable? Should it be avoided at all costs? Is it harmful? Sulayman bin Sard  said: "I was sitting with the Prophet  when two men argued and one of them became so angry that his face became swollen and changed..." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. It is clear from the above-mentioned narration that people are physically affected by anger. In terms of health, on-going states of anger have been linked with muscular tension, stress and adverse long-term affects on mental health. Although situations that cause anger are not always avoidable, anger can and should be controlled. A person who becomes angry may become irrational and say or do something regretful. When anger becomes a habit without efforts to control it, a person will face great difficulty in building quality interpersonal relationships.

Prophet Muhammad  was tested by the stubborn and ignorant people around him. He was exposed to ridicule and harassment. His followers were oppressed and unjustly punished for accepting Islam. The Prophet  himself was the subject of physical and emotional abuse by the Arabs in Makkah. However, there are no records of the Prophet ever abusing an individual, losing his temper, or becoming angry (outside of issues of religion).

The Prophet  advised his followers to control their anger at all costs. Even at the climax of war, he advised them to deal with prisoners with mercy and compassion. Abu Hurayrah  narrated that Allah's Apostle  said: "The strong is not the one who overcomes people by use of his strength, rather he is the one who controls himself while in anger." [Al-Bukhari] Among his directives, he  stressed the importance of not killing children or the elderly, burning villages or cutting down trees. There was also a high degree of respect for the modesty of women and as a result, there was not a single case of rape reported in his time. How was this possible? Is it indeed possible for people to suppress their anger, if so, how?

One of the best ways for a person to control his anger is by becoming more aware of his own personal habits. Quite often, in the midst of a heated discussion, a person's muscles start to become tense and the pulse increases rapidly. When this happens, it is possible that the person will become angry and irrational. The Prophet  has advised us that paying attention to these physical signs is very important. He  said:"Beware of anger, for it is a live coal on the heart of the son of Adam. Do you not notice the swelling of the veins of his neck and the redness of his eyes?" [At-Tirmithi]

Prophet Muhammad  also emphasized the importance of relaxing one's muscles. He  suggested the following: Narrated Abu Tharr : "The Messenger of Allah  said to us: ‘When one of you becomes angry while standing, he should sit down. If the anger leaves him, well and good; otherwise he should lie down’." [Abu Dawood]. The idea here is simple: the person must change the circumstances under which he first became angry. If his muscles have become tense and he has started to become angry while standing, then sitting down will require a relaxation of the muscles, while at the same time it will change the setting of the discussion. Also, getting up and performing ablution will help to alleviate the anger.

Narrated Atiyyah As-Sa'di : "Abu Wa'il Al-Qass  said: “We entered upon 'Urwah bin Muhammad bin As-Sa'di . A man spoke to him and made him angry. So he  stood and performed ablution; he then returned and said: ‘My father told me on the authority of my grandfather 'Atiyyah who reported the Apostle of Allah  as saying: `Anger comes from the devil, the devil was created of fire, and fire is extinguished only with water; so when one of you becomes angry, he should perform ablution`." [Abu Dawood].

In addition, the person must be aware of the kinds of situations and settings that make him angry. One source of frustration is being too busy to realize the kinds of situations that can cause anger and not taking the necessary precautions to avoid them. For example, if an employee is consistently late in submitting reports or is careless in the appearance of the reports, and this angers the leader, the problem is not necessarily caused by the staff member. Why? Simple: The leader must take the necessary steps to train the employee about what is required, so as to improve the work situation and avoid repeating the same stressful situation in the future. The leader can also learn to manage his reaction towards the staff member. One key to controlling anger is for a person to know what sets off the anger inside him and then is able to control it. Narrated Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri : "The Prophet  mentioned anger, saying: ‘Some are swift to anger and swift to cool down, the one characteristic making up for the other; some are slow to anger and slow to cool down, the one characteristic making up for the other; but the best of you are those who are slow to anger and swift to cool down, and the worst of you are those who are swift to anger and slow to cool down.’" [At-Tirmithi]

Another important element in controlling anger is not to allow frustrations to build up without adequate attention. A leader may spend a lot of time dealing with people. Each interaction may cause the leader some frustration. If he has no way of dealing with the stress of each situation as it occurs, then the leader will find himself at the brink of anger for even the most trivial situations. This sort of awareness places great pressure on the leader to constantly pay attention to his own emotions. What is he feeling? Is something frustrating him? If so, what is it? Is it something that can be immediately changed? If not, the leader must explore what can be done to help alleviate the situation, at least temporarily. Throughout the day, the leader must take inventory of his feelings towards the staff and towards particular situations. In addition, the leader must try to not let anger build up throughout the course of the day and when dealing with different situations.

Taking time out for prayer is one way to break the tension and relieve the stress that brings on anger. If taking a break to pray is not possible then stopping to make Du'aa' can help. Being aware of one's own personality will not only allow a person to function better, but also enable him to control his anger regardless of the situation. -islamweb.net

WHAT ARE HADITH?

Islam has two primary sources.  First is the Quran which is the direct word of God inspired to the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. The second source is the Prophet’s teachings.  These teachings include his words, actions, and things he approved of.  The Prophet’s teachings are called Sunnah.  The Sunnah is found in texts called hadith.  Hadith are statement of the Prophet which were narrated by his Companions and subsequently narrated to the next generation until these sayings were compiled in hadith collections.

The Prophet Muhammad was sent as the final messenger to mankind.  With his death, the message of Islam was completed.  The preservation of scripture is not limited to the text of the Quran, but its meaning as well.  If the Prophet’s explanation is needed in order to understand the Quran, then it is necessary that his sayings be preserved as well, not only the words of the Quran.  In other words, without the Sunnah the Quran is not preserved, what will only remain is the text without its meaning.

Imagine for instance trying to discover the manner of prayer based only on the command to "establish prayer" with few references to bowing and prostration.  The number of prayers, times per day, and what to recite would remain unknown.  Therefore, the Sunnah is part of the Quran’s preservation.  Without the Sunnah the meaning of the Quran would be lost and by extension not preserved.

Importance of Hadith

All Muslims, be they Sunni or Shia, agree that hadith are essential to understanding Islam.  Hadith are important because without them the Quran does not make sense.  They provide a context to the verses in the Quran.  The Quran is a rather concise book and therefore contains many general statements.  For instance, the Quran commands Muslims to pray, but it does not provide the details of how one is to perform prayer.

The Quran also commands Muslims to perform pilgrimage and give charity, but it does not provide the details.  These details are found in the hadith where Prophet Muhammad explained the details and mechanics of prayer as well as other aspects of Islam.  There are dozens of verses in the Quran that command Muslims to follow the Prophet.  Without knowing his teachings, one cannot possibly fulfill this command.

Collection of Hadith

The Companions of Prophet Muhammad memorized his statements and actions.  In addition to memorization, many Companions wrote these hadiths down in their personal collections.  These hadiths were passed down to the students of the Companions and subsequently down to their students.  Several Muslim scholars collected these hadiths into compilations which have become widespread and are the main sources of hadiths until today.

Hadith are a Primary Source of Islamic Teachings

The verses concerning the authority of the Prophet’s teachings are abundant; for brevity we will only list four:

"And whatever the Messenger gives you, accept it, and from whatever he forbids you, abstain from it." (Quran 59:7)

"Say: If you love God then follow me and God will love you and forgive your sins." (Quran 3:31)

"Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed God." (Quran 4:80)

"O you who believe, obey God and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.  If you differ in anything, then refer it to God and His Messenger if you believe in God and the Last Day; that is better and the best interpretation." (Quran 4:59)

The Quran establishes that Prophet Muhammad must be referred to when disputations occur.  This is an example of how the Prophet is a legislator and does not speak out of whim.  The Quran cannot command Muslims to follow the Prophet without making a means for them to know and follow him.  If his teachings are not preserved, then the Quran would be commanding Muslims to follow something that does not exist.  From this we understand that part of the preservation of the Quran is the preservation of the Sunnah itself.

Authentication of Hadith

In order to ensure that hadiths were authentic and not fabricated, scholars developed a unique and critical method.  This consisted of two components, first scholars scrutinized the people who were narrating the hadith.  They ensured that everyone in the chain of transmission met each other and was free from any disqualifying characteristics.  These disqualifying characteristics include lying, indulging in major sins, or having a known or obvious motive to fabricate a hadith.

The second criteria they used was to measure and grade the memory of the narrators.  This was done empirically by comparing the narrations of different students to see who might have made a mistake.  For instance, a Companion of the Prophet might have narrated ten sayings of the Prophet to 15 students.  Hadith scholars would then individually ask these students to recite the hadith to them.  If of those 15 students 13 students say that the hadith says XYZ and 2 say it says ZYX then it is likely they made a mistake.  They would then note that this narrator has a poor memory and their narrations are to be rejected or accepted with caution.  Hadiths would then be classified as authentic, acceptable, weak, or fabricated.  For more details on this process check out this article.

Examples of Prophet’s Statements Found in Hadith

"Those people who show no mercy will receive no mercy from God."[1]

"Not one of you can (truly) believe if you do not want for your (believing) brother what you want for yourself."[2]

"Do not have ill-will towards one another, do not be envious of one another, do not turn your back on one another; O, servants of God, be brothers (and sisters).  It is not permissible for a Muslim to remain angry with their brother [in religion] for more than three days."[3]

"When a human being dies all their actions and blessings come to an end, except for these three things: continuous charity, the knowledge from which they have benefited others, and a blessed child who prays for them."[4]

"If someone conceals the mistake of another servant, on the Day of Judgement God will cover their mistake."[5]

Conclusion

The statements of Prophet Muhammad are the second source of Islamic knowledge and law.  Without these statements, the Quran loses its context and meaning.  Scholars developed a science which they used to determine the level of each hadith’s authenticity.  Hadith serve as a source of guidance for Muslims in their daily lives.  They use hadith to learn more about the Prophet and try to emulate his actions and character. -islamreligion.com

FOOTNOTES:

[1]Saheeh Muslim

[2]Saheeh Al-Bukhari

[3]Saheeh Al-Bukhari

[4]Saheeh Muslim

[5]Saheeh Muslim

Muhammad Al-Fatih: about whom the Prophet gave glad tidings

For eight centuries, the conquest of Constantinople, now Istanbul Turkey was a dream for the Muslim commanders. Ever since the era of the revered companion, Mu`aawiyah Ibn Abu Sufyaan, there had been many attempts to conquer it, but none had succeeded.

Every Muslim commander wanted to be the conqueror praised in the narration in which the Prophet  said: "You will conquerConstantinople. Its commander is the best and its army (that will conquer it) is the best."

Who was then the person about whom the Prophet  gave glad tidings? It was Muhammad Al-Fatih son of the Ottoman Sultan Murad II.

Muhammad Al-Fatih as a child and his excellent preparation:

Muhammad Al-Fatih was born on 27^th  Rajab, 835 A.H.,  30^th  March, 1432. He was brought up under the supervision of his father, Sultan Murad II, the seventh Ottoman Sultan. His father prepared and trained him to shoulder the responsibilities of the position of a Sultan. Muhammad Al-Fatih memorized all the Quran, learnt the Prophetic narrations, Islamic jurisprudence, mathematics, astronomy and the skills required for war.

He also learnt Arabic, Persian, Latin and Greek languages. He joined his father in his battles and conquests.

His father appointed him as a ruler of a small emirate so that he could receive practical training on administering state affairs under the supervision of some of the top scholars of that time. This matter influenced the character of the young prince and tinted his personality with Islamic morals and manners.

Shaykh Aaq Shamsd-Deen, one of the scholars who supervised the upbringing and education of Muhammad Al-Fatih, managed to inculcate in his heart the spirit of Jihad and the desire to be a person with high ambition.

The Shaykh also told Muhammad Al-Fatih, may Allah have mercy on him, that he may be the one referred to in the Prophetic narration mentioned above. All this shaped the character of Muhammad Al-Fatih. He was devoted to Jihad, highly ambitious, widely cultured, and had deep knowledge of the skills of war and combat.

Taking power and his efforts to achieve the glad tiding:

After the death of his father, Sultan Murad II on 5^th Muharram, 852 A.H., 7^th February, 1451 A.C., Muhammad Al-Fatih took over and became the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. He was a strong young man, only twenty years old, very enthusiastic and ambitious. He was thinking of the conquest of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This dream overwhelmed him to the extent that he would not talk about any subject except for the conquest of Constantinople. He would not even allow anyone who was sitting with him to talk, except about the expected conquest.

The first step in achieving his dream was to take control of the Strait of Bosporus so that he could prevent any support or supplies that might come to Constantinople from Europe. So he built a huge castle on the European seashore of the Strait of Bosporus. Along with top senior officials, he personally participated in building the castle. It took three months to build this castle that came to be known as the Roman Castle. On the other bank of the Strait of Bosporus there was the Castle of Anatolia. It then became impossible for any ship to cross unless it obtained permission from the Ottoman forces.

At that time, a talented engineer managed to make a number of cannons for the Sultan, Muhammad Al-Fatih. One of these cannons, never known before that time, was 700 tons and its projectile weighed 1,500 kilograms.

The sound of its shell could be heard from a long distance away. It was pulled by one hundred oxen aided by one hundred strong men. This giant cannon was called the Sultanic Cannon.

The conquest of Constantinople and the realization of the glad tidings:

After completing his preparations, Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih marched to Constantinople with an army of two hundred and sixty-five thousand fighters. This army had infantry forces as well as horsemen. Huge cannons supported this army. The army besieged Constantinopleand the Ottoman cannons started to fire their missiles at the fortified walls of the city day and night. From time to time, the Sultan surprised the enemy with a new war plan until the city defenders lost control and their forces gave up.

At dawn of Tuesday, 20^th Jumada Al-Awwal, 827 A.H.,  29^th May, 1453 A.C., the Ottoman forces managed to penetrate the walls and drive away the defenders who fled. The people of Constantinople were taken by surprise when they saw the Ottoman flags waving on their walls and the soldiers flooding into the city.

After the Ottoman forces conquered the city, Sultan Muhammad arrived on his horse in a great procession that included his ministers and army commanders. Ever since that time, the Sultan was known as Muhammad Al-Fatih (the Conqueror). The soldiers were shouting:

Mash-Allah! Mash-Allah! Long live our Sultan! Long live our Sultan!

The Sultan's procession marched until it reached Hagia Sophia church where the people of the city had gathered. When they knew that the Sultan had arrived, they bowed and prostrated and they were all weeping and crying because they did not know their fate; what Sultan Muhammad Al-Fatih would do to them.

When the Sultan arrived, he dismounted from his horse and prayed two Rak`ahs thanking Allah Who had blessed him with this conquest. Then the Sultan addressed the people of the city who were still bowing and prostrating in tears:

Stand up! I am Sultan Muhammad and I would like to tell you, your brothers, and all the people present that your lives and freedoms are protected.

The Sultan ordered that the church be turned into a mosque and for the first time, the call for prayer was heard from this place. Until now, this mosque is still known as the Mosque of Hagia Sophia. He also decided to take Constantinople as a capital of his country. It was called Islambul, meaning the House of Islam. Later on the word was viciously twisted to become Istanbul.

The Sultan was very tolerant and merciful with the people of the city, and acted according to the teachings of Islam. He commanded his soldiers to treat their prisoners of war in a good manner. The Sultan himself paid the ransoms for a large number of prisoners of war from his own money. He also allowed those who left the city when it was under siege to return home.

The aftermath of the conquest of Constantinople:

Muhammad Al-Fatih, may Allah have mercy on him, attained this victory when he was twenty three years old. This indicated his early military genius. He also deserved the glad tidings of the Prophet  who foretold that a good person would conquer that city.

Later on, Muhammad Al-Fatih headed to complete his conquests in the Balkan. He managed to conquer Serbia Greece RomaniaAlbania and Bosnia Herzegovina. He also looked forward to conquering Rome so that he would have another source of pride in addition to the conquest of Constantinople.

In order to achieve this great hope, he needed to conquer Italy. He prepared a tremendous fleet for this mission. He managed to land his forces and a large number of cannons near the Italian city Otarant. Consequently he managed to capture its castle in Jumada Al-Awwal 885 A.H., July 1480 A.C.

Muhammad Al-Fatih, may Allah have mercy on him, decided to take Otarant as a base for his northern military operations until he could reachRome. The European world was terrified because of this attempt and they expected the fall of the historical city, Rome into the hands of Muhammad Al-Fatih, may Allah have mercy on him. However, he died suddenly (on  4^th  Rabee' Al-Awwal, 886 A.H.,  3^rd  May, 1481 A.C.) while he was preparing to realize this dream. All Europe was very happy when they knew about his death. The Pope of Rome ordered that thankfulness prayer be held in churches as a means of expressing joy and happiness over the news.

Muhammad Al-Fatih  as a statesman and a sponsor of civilization

During the reign of Muhammad Al-Fatih and because of his wise leadership and well-planned policy, the OttomanState reached boundaries that it had never done before.

All these conquests were not the only achievements of Muhammad Al-Fatih. Through the help of some of his loyal men, he managed to establish a constitution based on the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet  and the Ottoman state adhered to this constitution for about four centuries.

Although he was very busy, he managed to establish more than 300 mosques, 192 of which were in Istanbul alone. He also built 57 schools. Among his most famous architectural monuments are the Mosque of Sultan Muhammad, the Mosque of Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansari, andSaraiTub-QabuPalace.

Muhammad Al-Fatih was known for his love for literature. He was a good poet and a regular reader. He liked the company of scholars and poets and made some of them ministers. Whenever he heard about a great scholar in any field, he would help and support him or ask him to come to Istanbul in order to benefit of his knowledge.

The character of Muhammad Al-Fatih:

Muhammad Al-Fatih was a committed Muslim who abode by the rulings of Islamic jurisprudence. Because of the way he was brought up, he was a pious man. As for his military conduct, it was very civilized and it was unfamiliar to Europe in its Medieval Ages.

Owing to his ambition fostered by his teachers who always encouraged him to be the conqueror of Constantinople he managed to make the greatest of his achievements by conquering this city.

Muhammad Al-Fatih managed to realize his dreams through hard, continuous work, and well-organized planning. For example, before besieging Constantinople he prepared for the war by making cannons, preparing his fleet, and making use of all the factors that might render him victorious.

Through high ambition, determination, and the effort to achieve his goals, he managed to materialize his dream, make his hope an existing reality which made him one of the great Muslim heroes and conquerors. -islamweb.net