By Fakhar-e-Alam PESHAWAR, Aug 20 (APP):In a world often marked by inequality, injustice and social exclusion, the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) continue to inspire billions of people with a timeless message of compassion, dignity, justice and care for the poor, underprivileged and women folk irrespective of caste, colour and nationality. Revered by Muslims as the final Messenger of Allah and Rehmatul-lil-Alameen (mercy …
Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): A timeless example of compassion for women, underprivilaged
By Fakhar-e-Alam
PESHAWAR, Aug 20 (APP):In a world often marked by inequality, injustice and social exclusion, the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) continue to inspire billions of people with a timeless message of compassion, dignity, justice and care for the poor, underprivileged and women folk irrespective of caste, colour and nationality.
Revered by Muslims as the final Messenger of Allah and Rehmatul-lil-Alameen (mercy to the worlds), the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was not only a spiritual leader of all times but also a transformative social reformer whose teachings challenged deeply rooted customs and established enduring principles for the protection of vulnerable members of society.
His approach to the rights and dignity of women and orphans remains particularly significant. At a time when many sections of Arabian society were deprived of basic rights and protection, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) emphasized that human dignity and social responsibility must extend to those who were most vulnerable especially poor women, widows, orphans, and slaves.
“In pre-Islamic Arabia, daughters were often considered a burden, while some tribes even practiced female infanticide,” said Prof Dr. Muhammad Riaz Khan, Chairman, Islamic Studies Department at University of Peshawar while talking to APP about significance of celebrations of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday anniversary of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
He said the Holy Prophet (PBUH) categorically condemned the killing of female infants and transformed attitudes towards daughters by emphasizing their dignity, upbringing with love and care.
The Prophet (PBUH) encouraged Muslims to treat daughters with kindness and compassion, presenting their proper upbringing as a source of spiritual reward.
His teachings challenged the notion that the birth of a girl was a cause for shame or misfortune and instead established the care of daughters as a moral and religious responsibility.
Dr Riaz said the last Prophet of Allah also strengthened women’s rights within family and social life. Women were given rights relating to marriage, inheritance and property, while their consent and dignity were emphasized in marital matters.
The Prophet’s (PBUH) relationship with Hazrat Khadijah (RA), a highly respected and successful businesswoman, provided an enduring example of mutual respect, trust and partnership. Their marriage demonstrated that a woman’s social or economic standing was not an obstacle to a relationship based on dignity and mutual regard.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) also emphasized the importance of knowledge and learning. Islamic tradition strongly encourages the pursuit of knowledge by Muslims, reinforcing the principle that intellectual and moral development should not be confined to one gender.
His concern for vulnerable children and orphans was equally profound. Having lost his father before his birth and his mother at a young age, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) personally experienced the vulnerability and emotional challenges associated with orphanhood.
Following the death of his mother, he was cared for first by his grandfather and later by his uncle. This early experience remained reflected in his lifelong concern for orphans and disadvantaged children.
Dr Riaz said the Holy Quran repeatedly stresses the rights of orphans and warns against exploiting or mistreating them. The Prophet (PBUH) translated these principles into practical guidance, urging Muslims not merely to provide material assistance to orphans but also treat them with affection, dignity and respect.
In a well-known hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said that he and the person who cares for an orphan will be together in Paradise like two fingers, illustrating the exceptional spiritual importance Islam attaches to supporting orphaned children.
The Prophet’s (PBUH) compassion was not limited to women and orphans. His teachings extended to widows, poor, slaves, travelers, sick and other marginalized members of society. He repeatedly reminded his followers that social status, wealth and power did not determine a person’s worth before Allah.
According to Dr. Riaz, this represented a profound transformation in social values in Islamic faith. “The strength of a society is measured by the way it treats its weakest members,” he said, adding that the Prophet’s (PBUH) message placed responsibility on individuals and communities to protect those who could not adequately protect themselves.
The Prophet (PBUH) was sent as Rehmatul Lilalameen for entire world. He did not merely speak about compassion as an abstract virtue but demonstrated it through his conduct. His interactions with family members, children, poor and marginalized reflected patience, kindness and respect.
His teachings also established a broader principle of social accountability as prosperity carries responsibility, power must be exercised with justice, and vulnerable people must not be deprived of their rights.
More than fourteen centuries later, these principles continue to offer guidance in societies confronting challenges such as poverty, discrimination, violence against women, child neglect and the marginalization of disadvantaged communities.
Dr Riaz Khan said the continued efforts of charitable organizations, welfare institutions and community groups to support widows, women, orphans and other vulnerable people draw inspiration from Islamic teachings on social responsibility.
He stressed that remembering the Holy Prophet (PBUH) should go beyond ceremonies and expressions of reverence in Eid Milad-un-Nabi and we should also involve translating the teachings of the last messenger of Allah into everyday conduct by protecting the vulnerable, honoring women, caring for orphans and standing against injustice.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), he said, was not only a Messenger of Allah but also a reformer, protector, military strategist and nurturer whose example continues to provide a moral framework for humanity.
His enduring legacy demonstrates even today that compassion is not a sign of weakness but a foundation of a just and humane society. His emphasis on the dignity of women, protection of orphans and care for marginalized people remains relevant in an age still struggling to achieve equality, empathy and social justice.
In a rapidly changing world where public role models may come and go, the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) continues to offer a lasting example of mercy, responsibility, values and human dignity that transcend time, geography and social boundaries.
