Top 100 personalities of the world

1. Muhammad Islam Prophet of Islam; conqueror of Arabia; Hart recognized that ranking Muhammad first might be controversial, but felt that, from a secular historian's perspective, this was the correct choice because Muhammad is the only man to have been both a founder of a major world religion and a major military/political leader.

2 Isaac Newton Anglican (rejected Trinitarianism, i.e.,
Athanasianism; believed in the Arianism
of the Primitive Church)
physicist; theory of universal gravitation; laws of motion

3 Jesus Christ *
Judaism; Christianity founder of Christianity

4 Buddha Hinduism; Buddhism founder of Buddhism
5 Confucius Confucianism founder of Confucianism

6 St. Paul Judaism; Christianity proselytizer of Christianity
7 Ts'ai Lun Chinese traditional religion inventor of paper
8 Johann Gutenberg Catholic developed movable type; printed Bibles
9 Christopher Columbus Catholic explorer; led Europe to Americas
10 Albert Einstein Jewish
physicist; relativity; Einsteinian physics
11 Louis Pasteur Catholic scientist; pasteurization
12 Galileo Galilei Catholic
astronomer; accurately described heliocentric solar system
13 Aristotle Platonism / Greek philosophy
influential Greek philosopher
14 Euclid Platonism / Greek philosophy mathematician; Euclidian geometry
15 Moses Judaism major prophet of Judaism
16 Charles Darwin Anglican (nominal); Unitarian
biologist; described Darwinian evolution, which had theological impact on many religions
17 Shih Huang Ti Chinese traditional religion Chinese emperor
18 Augustus Caesar Roman state paganism ruler
19 Nicolaus Copernicus Catholic (priest)
astronomer; taught heliocentricity
20 Antoine Laurent Lavoisier Catholic
father of modern chemistry; philosopher; economist
21 Constantine the Great Roman state paganism; Christianity Roman emperor who completely legalized Christianity, leading to its status as state religion. Convened the First Council of Nicaea that produced the Nicene Creed, which rejected Arianism (one of two major strains of Christian thought) and established Athanasianism (Trinitarianism, the other strain) as "official doctrine."
22 James Watt Presbyterian (lapsed)
developed steam engine
23 Michael Faraday Sandemanian
physicist; chemist; discovery of magneto-electricity
24 James Clerk Maxwell Presbyterian; Anglican; Baptist
physicist; electromagnetic spectrum
25 Martin Luther Catholic; Lutheran founder of Protestantism and Lutheranism
26 George Washington Episcopalian
first president of United States
27 Karl Marx Jewish; Lutheran;
Atheist; Marxism/Communism
founder of Marxism, Marxist Communism
28 Orville and Wilbur Wright United Brethren
inventors of airplane
29 Genghis Khan Mongolian shamanism Mongol conqueror
30 Adam Smith Liberal Protestant economist; philosopher; expositor of capitalism; author: The Theory of Moral Sentiments
31 Edward de Vere
a.k.a. William Shakespeare Catholic; Anglican
literature; also wrote 6 volumes about philosophy and religion
32 John Dalton Quaker
chemist; physicist; atomic theory; law of partial pressures (Dalton's law)
33 Alexander the Great Greek state paganism conqueror
34 Napoleon Bonaparte Catholic (nominal)
French conqueror
35 Thomas Edison Congregationalist; agnostic
inventor of light bulb, phonograph, etc.
36 Antony van Leeuwenhoek Dutch Reformed
microscopes; studied microscopic life
37 William T.G. Morton ?? pioneer in anesthesiology
38 Guglielmo Marconi Catholic and Anglican
inventor of radio
39 Adolf Hitler Nazism; born/raised in, but rejected Catholicism
conqueror; led Axis Powers in WWII
40 Plato Platonism / Greek philosophy
founder of Platonism
41 Oliver Cromwell Puritan (Protestant) British political and military leader
42 Alexander Graham Bell Unitarian/Universalist inventor of telephone *

43 Alexander Fleming Catholic penicillin; advances in bacteriology, immunology and chemotherapy
44 John Locke raised Puritan (Anglican);
Liberal Christian
philosopher and liberal theologian
45 Ludwig van Beethoven Catholic
composer
46 Werner Heisenberg Lutheran
a founder of quantum mechanics; discovered principle of uncertainty; head of Nazi Germany's nuclear program
47 Louis Daguerre ?? an inventor/pioneer of photography
48 Simon Bolivar Catholic (nominal); Atheist
National hero of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
49 Rene Descartes Catholic
Rationalist philosopher and mathematician
50 Michelangelo Catholic
painter; sculptor; architect
51 Pope Urban II Catholic called for First Crusade
52 'Umar ibn al-Khattab Islam Second Caliph; expanded Muslim empire
53 Asoka Buddhism king of India who converted to and spread Buddhism
54 St. Augustine Greek state paganism; Manicheanism; Catholic
Early Christian theologian
55 William Harvey Anglican (nominal)
described the circulation of blood; wrote Essays on the Generation of Animals, the basis for modern embryology
56 Ernest Rutherford ?? physicist; pioneer of subatomic physics
57 John Calvin Protestant; Calvinism Protestant reformer; founder of Calvinism
58 Gregor Mendel Catholic (Augustinian monk)
Mendelian genetics
59 Max Planck Protestant
physicist; thermodynamics
60 Joseph Lister Quaker principal discoverer of antiseptics which greatly reduced surgical mortality
61 Nikolaus August Otto ?? built first four-stroke internal combustion engine
62 Francisco Pizarro Catholic Spanish conqueror in South America; defeated Incas
63 Hernando Cortes Catholic conquered Mexico for Spain; through war and introduction of new diseases he largely destroyed Aztec civilization
64 Thomas Jefferson Episcopalian; Deist
3rd president of United States
65 Queen Isabella I Catholic Spanish ruler
66 Joseph Stalin Russian Orthodox; Atheist; Marxism
revolutionary and ruler of USSR
67 Julius Caesar Roman state paganism Roman emperor
68 William the Conqueror Catholic laid foundation of modern England
69 Sigmund Freud Jewish; atheist; Freudian psychology/psychoanalysis
founded Freudian school of psychology/psychoanalysis (i.e., the "religion of Freudianism")
70 Edward Jenner Anglican
discoverer of the vaccination for smallpox
71 Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen ?? discovered X-rays
72 Johann Sebastian Bach Lutheran; Catholic composer
73 Lao Tzu Taoism founder of Taoism
74 Voltaire raised in Jansenism;
later Deist
writer and philosopher; wrote Candide
75 Johannes Kepler Lutheran
astronomer; planetary motions
76 Enrico Fermi Catholic
initiated the atomic age; father of atom bomb
77 Leonhard Euler Calvinist
physicist; mathematician; differential and integral calculus and algebra
78 Jean-Jacques Rousseau born Protestant;
converted as a teen to Catholic;
later Deist French deistic philosopher and author
79 Nicoli Machiavelli Catholic wrote The Prince (influential political treatise)
80 Thomas Malthus Anglican (cleric) economist; wrote Essay on the Principle of Population
81 John F. Kennedy Catholic
U.S. President who led first successful effort by humans to travel to another "planet"
82 Gregory Pincus Jewish
endocrinologist; developed birth-control pill
83 Mani Manicheanism founder of Manicheanism, once a world religion which rivaled Christianity in strength
84 Lenin Russian Orthodox;
Atheist; Marxism/Communism
Russian ruler
85 Sui Wen Ti Chinese traditional religion unified China
86 Vasco da Gama Catholic navigator; discovered route from Europe to India around Cape Hood
87 Cyrus the Great Zoroastrianism founder of Persian empire
88 Peter the Great Russian Orthodox forged Russia into a great European nation
89 Mao Zedong Atheist; Communism; Maoism founder of Maoism, Chinese form of Communism
90 Francis Bacon Anglican
philosopher; delineated inductive scientific method
91 Henry Ford Protestant developed automobile; achievement in manufacturing and assembly
92 Mencius Confucianism philosopher; founder of a school of Confucianism
93 Zoroaster Zoroastrianism founder of Zoroastrianism
94 Queen Elizabeth I Anglican British monarch; restored Church of England to power after Queen Mary
95 Mikhail Gorbachev Russian Orthodox
Russian premier who helped end Communism in USSR
96 Menes Egyptian paganism unified Upper and Lower Egypt
97 Charlemagne Catholic Holy Roman Empire created with his baptism in 800 AD
98 Homer Greek paganism epic poet
99 Justinian I Catholic Roman emperor; reconquered Mediterranean empire; accelerated Catholic-Monophysite schism
100 Mahavira Hinduism; Jainism founder of Jainism

What is Salat?

Ṣalāh or Ṣalāt is the practice of formal prayer in Islam. Its supreme importance for Muslims is indicated by its status as one of the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam, of the Ten Practices of the Religion of Twelver Islam and of the 7 pillars of Musta‘lī Ismailis. Salah is a ritual prayer, having prescribed conditions, a prescribed procedure, and prescribed times.

Performing salah is obligatory, with a few dispensations for those for whom it would be difficult. To perform valid salah, Muslims must be in a state of ritual purity, which is mainly achieved by ritual ablution according to prescribed procedures. The place of prayer should be clean. In a few cases where blood is leaving the body, salah is forbidden until a later time.

Salah consists of the repetition of two or more units of a prescribed sequence of actions and words. One complete sequence is known as a raka'ah (pl. raka'āt). The number of obligatory (fard) raka'āt varies according to the time of day or other circumstances (such as Friday congregational prayers). The minimal, obligatory raka'at may be supplemented with acts which are optional but are considered meritorious. There are also dispensations from some or all of the prescribed actions for those who are physically unable to complete them. The prescribed words of the prayer remain obligatory.

For Sunnis and Musta'lids, salah is prescribed at five periods of the day, which are measured according to the movement of the sun. These are: near dawn (fajr), just after noon (dhuhr), in the afternoon (asr), just after sunset (maghrib) and around nightfall (isha'a). Under some circumstances prayers can be shortened or combined (according to prescribed procedures). In case a prayer is skipped, it must be made up later. Twelver fiqh permits two sets of these prayers to be performed in succession. Sufis often perform dhikr after the conclusion of prayers.

ACCEPT ISLAM FOR YOUR SALVATION

DECLARE:

LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAH MUHAMMAD UR RASULULLAH
None is worthy of worship except Allah
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

DECLARE IT, BELIEVE IN IT AND LIVE BY IT
LIVE ACCORDING TO ISLAM FOR YOUR SPIRITUAL PROGRESS

Five Greatest Persons in All Human History

1. Habib u'l A'zam, Imam u'l Anbiya Sayyidina Muhammad ibn 'Abdillah,
Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam. (53 B.H-11 A.H; 571-632 C.E)

Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, the leader of all the Prophets and the final Prophet sent by Allah for the whole of humanity till the end of time.
He is referred to as Habibullah, the most beloved of Allah.
His father's name was 'Abdullah ibn 'AbdulMuttalib and his mother's name was Amina bint Wahb az-Zuhriyya.

2. Sayyidina Nabi Ibrahim, 'alayhissalam.

Prophet Abraham, peace be upon him.
He is referred to as Khalilullah, the friend of Allah.

3. Sayyidina Nabi Musa 'Alayhissalam.

Prophet Moses, peace be upon him.
He is referred to as Kalimullah, the one who talked with Allah.

4. Sayyidina Nabi 'Isa ibn Maryam, 'alayhissalam.

Prophet Jesus, peace be upon him, son of the blessed Virgin Mary, peace be upon her.
He is referred to as Ruhullah, the Spirit of Allah.

5. Sayyidina Nabi Nuh 'alayhissalam.

Prophet Noah, peace be upon him.
He is referred to as Najiyullah, the Confidant of Allah.
Appreciative Explanation
1. These five greatest Messengers and Prophets sent by Allah, peace be upon them, are the greatest persons in all human history till the end of time. In the Holy Qur'an, they are referred to as Ulul 'Azm, Possessors of strong will and perseverance. (33:7) (46:35)
2. Allah, the Glorified and the Exalted, sent about 315 Messengers (Mursalin or Rusul) peace be upon them, throughout human history to various nations and tribes, His final Messenger (Rasul) being Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. (2:285) (33:40) These Messengers of Allah are the greatest persons in all human history. Allah sent them with Divine law for their nations. Since Prophet Muhammad is the final Rasul (Allah's Messenger) who was given the Holy Qur'an (the final revealed Word of Allah), he is the Rasul for the whole of humanity till the end of time, and the law given in the Holy Qur'an and in his exemplary lifestyle is the law applicable for the whole of humanity till the end of time. (Only a few of the names of these Messengers of Allah are mentioned in the Holy Qur'an).
3. Allah also sent Anbiya (Prophets) to guide humanity. They are distinct from the Rusul (Messengers of Allah) in that they did not bring any new Divine law but followed the existing Divine law. Hence Allah's Messengers (Mursalin or Rusul) are considered to be superior to Prophets (Anbiya). Nabi Musa (peace be upon him) is both a Nabi (Prophet) as well as a Rasul (Allah's Messenger) because he brought a new Divine law (Tawraat or Torah), while his brother Nabi Harun (peace be upon him) is a Nabi (Prophet) but not a Rasul because Allah did not give him any new law to teach the people but he followed the Torah.
4. Human greatness in Islam is based on piety. Allah chose His Mursalin (Messengers) and the Anbiya (Prophets) and made them the most pious for others to emulate them. Hence they are the greatest by Divine choice.
5. Sayyidina means "our master".

Beautiful Qualities of Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him)

Mercy to all mankind
Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) said: the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was asked to curse the infidels. He said, "I have not been sent to curse people but as a mercy to all mankind." (Muslim)
Mother of faithful believers Hadrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that she once asked the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him): 'Did you face a day severer than the day of the battle of Uhud? 'He answered: 'Yes I have experienced such things at the hands of your people and such a day was the day of Aqabah. On this day I presented myself to Abdi lail bin Abd Kulal and offered him Islam, but he failed to make any responce to what I had offered to him. I therefore, left with a heavy heart and depressed. I felt some relieft only when I reached Qarn Sa'alib. Here I looked up and saw a cloud covering me. In this cloud I saw Angel Jibril (peace be upon him) who called me and said: Allah, the Most High, has heard what your people have said to you and the response to your offer. Allah has now sent the Angel of the Mountains to you to carry out your orders to do what you might like to be done to them. Then the Angel of the Mountains addressed me greeting with Salam and then said: 'Muhammad! Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted) has heard what your people have said to you. I am the Angel of the Mountains and my Lord has sent me to you to carry out your orders. What do you want now to be done? If you like I may crush them between the two mountains encircling the city of Makka. The Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) replied: (I do not want their destruction) I am still hopeful that Allah will make some of their children (good Muslims) who would worship Allah, the One, without associating anybody with Him. (Bukhari and Muslim).
His forgiveness
Hadrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a Jewess came to Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) with poisoned mutton and he took of what had been brought to him. (When the effect of his poison were felt by him) he called for her and asked her about that, whereupon she said: I had determined to kill you. Thereupon he said: Allah will never give you the power to do it. He (the narrator) said that they (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: Should we not kill her? Thereupon he said: No. He (Anas) said: I felt (the effects of this poison) on the uvula of Allah's Messenger. (Muslim)
It has been narrated on the authority of Hadrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that eighty persons from the inhabitants of Makka swooped down upon Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) from the mountain of Tan'im. They were armed and wanted to attack the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and his Companions unawares. He (the Holy Prophet) captured them but spared their lives. So, Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted) revealed the verse: "And It is He Who restrained your hands from them and their hands from you in the valley of Makkah after He had given you a victory over them." (48:24) (Muslim)
His trust in Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted)
It has been narrated on the authority of Hadrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that, on the Day of Hunain, Umm Sulaim took out a dagger she had in her possession. Hadrat Abu Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) saw her and said: Messenger of Allah, this is Umm Sulaim. She is holding a dagger. Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) asked (her): What for are you holding that dagger? She said: I took it up so that I may tear open the belly of a polytheist who comes near me. Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) began to smile (at those words). She said: Messenger of Allah, kill all those people-other than us- whom thou hast declared to be free (on the day of the Conquest of Makka). (They embraced Islam because) they were defeated at your hands (and as such their Islam is not dependable). Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said: Umm Sulaim, Allah is sufficient (against the mischief of the polytheists) and He will be kind to us (so you need not carry this dagger). (Muslim)
He fought only for Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted)
Mother of faithful believers, Hadrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said that the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) never struck anybody with his hand, neither a servant nor a women, but he did fight (jihad) in the cause of Allah. He never avenged any wrong done to him personally, but he did avenge a wrong violating divine commandments. (Muslim)
Closer to the believers than their ownselves
Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a man who had died in debt would be brought to Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and he would ask whether he had left anything to discharge his debt. If he was told that he had left enough he would pray, otherwise he would tell the Muslims to pray over their friend. But when Allah (The Glorified and the Exalted) wrought the conquests at his hands he stood up and said, "I am closer to the believers than their own selves,* so if any of the believers dies leaving a debt I shall be responsible for paying it, and if anyone leaves property it goes to his heirs." (Bukhari and Muslim)
*(Qur'an, 33:6)
He prayed for the leader of the Munafiqeen (Hypocrites)
Narrated Hadrat Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): When 'Abdullah bin 'Ubai died, his son 'Abdullah came to Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and asked him to give him his shirt in order to shroud his father in it. He gave it to him and then 'Abdullah asked the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) to offer the funeral prayer for him (his father). Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) got up to offer the funeral prayer for him, Sayyidina 'Umar got up too and got hold of the garment of Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and said, "O Allah's Messenger! Will you offer the funeral prayer for him though your Lord has forbidden you to offer the prayer for him?" Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said, "But Allah has given me the choice by saying:-
'Whether you ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them; even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times....' (9:80)
So I will ask more than seventy times." Sayyidina 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "But he (Abdullah bin 'Ubai) is a hypocrite!" However, Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) did offer the funeral prayer for him whereupon Allah revealed:-
'And never (O Muhammad) pray for anyone of them that dies, nor stand at his grave.' (9:84) * (Bukhari)
*The complete verse is: "And never (O Muhammad) pray for anyone of them that dies nor stand at his grave. Lo! they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and they died while they were evil-doers." (9:84)
His gentleness
Hadrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: While we were in the mosque with Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) a desert Arab came and began to pass water in the mosque. The companions of Allah's Messenger said, "Stop! Stop!" but Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said, "Don't interrupt him; leave him alone." They left him alone, and when he had finished, Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) called him and said to him, "These mosques are not suitable places for urine and filth, but are only for remembrance of Allah, prayer and recitation of the Qur'an," or however Allah's Messenger expressed it.* Hadrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that he then gave orders to one of the people who brought a bucket and poured water over it. (Bukhari and Muslim)
*Indicating that the transmitter is not sure of the exact words.
His concern for the people
Hadrat Abu Qatadah Haris Ibn Rib'i (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said: I stand up for Prayer [Salat] intending to prolong it. In the meantime I hear the wailing of a baby and I have to shorten my prayer, being apprehensive lest my recitation of a long verse may tell upon the baby's mother. (Bukhari)
He established rights for animals
Narrated Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): The Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said, "One of the rights is that she camels should be milked at places of water." (Bukhari)
His tender heart
Nazrat Abdallah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reports as follows:- Once the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) asked me to recite the Qur'an to him. I said: "O Messenger of Allah! The Holy Qur'an has been revealed to you and you ask me to recite it to you!" "It is my wish, " he said, "that I hear it from some other person". So I began to recite, beginning from the Sura an-Nisa, and when I reached this verse: "But how (will it be with them) when, We bring of every people a witness, and We bring thee (O Muhammad) a witness against these," (4:41). I chanced to glance at his auspicious face and saw that tears were rolling down from his eyes. (Tirmidhi)
He was the bravest of men
Hadrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was the sublimest among people (in character) and the most generous amongst them and he was the bravest of men. One night people of Madina felt disturbed and set forth in the direction of a sound when Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) met them on his way back as he had gone towards that sound ahead of them. He was on the horse of Hadrat Abu Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) which had no sadle over it, and a sword was slung round his neck, and he was saying: There was nothing to be afraid of, and he also said: We found it (this horse) like a torrent of water (indicating its swiftfootedness), whereas the horse had been slow before that time. (Muslim)
His generosity
Hadrat Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was the most generous of people in charity, but he was generous to the utmost in the month of Ramadan. Hazat Jibril (peace be upon him) would meet him every year during the month of Ramadan until it ended, and Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) recited to him the Qur'an; and when Jibril (peace be upon him) met him, Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was most generous in giving charity like the blowing wind. (Muslim)
Hadrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a person requested Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) to give him a very large flock (of sheep) and he gave that to him. He came to his tribe and said: O people, embrace Islam. By Allah, Muhammad donates so much as if he did not fear want. Hadrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the person embraced Islam for the sake of the world but later he became Muslim until Islam became dearer to him than the world and what it contains. (Muslim)
He did not take sadaqah
Hadrat Buraidah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that when the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) emigrated to Madina, Hadrat Salman Farsi (may Allah be pleased with him) brought a tray full of fresh dates and offered it to him. He asked , "What is this?" Hadrat Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "It is a sacrifice (sadaqah) for you and your Companions." He said: "We do not eat sadaqah". On the second day too Hadrat Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) came with a tray of dates and said: "These dates are a gift." Then the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and the Companions ate of those dates. Thereafter Hadrat Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) saw the Seal of Prophethood (in between his shoulders) and embraced Islam. (Tirmidhi)
His true nature
Hadrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was presented two cups at Bayt al-Maqdis on the night of the Heavenly Journey, one containing wine and the other containing milk. He looked at both of them, and he took the one containing milk, whereupon Hadrat Jibril (peace be upon him) said: Praise is due to Allah Who guided you to the true nature; had you taken the one containing wine, your Umma would have gone astray. (Muslim)
He did not speak to please but always said the truth
Hadrat 'Amr ibn al-Aas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) in his special talk, used to pay attention even to the worst man in the community with a view to win his heart. "Towards me also," states Hadrat 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him), "he used to pay much attention, addressing me more than he did others, wherefore I began to think that I was the best man in the community. So under this impression, one day I asked him: "Am I superior or Hadrat Umar?" He said, 'Umar'. Again I asked him clearly, he told me correctly, without fear or favour, and later on I thought I should not have asked him such things." (Tirmidhi)
His manners
Hadrat Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "The Holy Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) had the best manners among all the human beings" (Bukhari and Muslim)
He would take permission from a small boy
Hadrat Sahl bin Sa'd Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that milk was brought to the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him). He drank it. On his right was a boy and on the left elderly persons. He said to the boy: If you permit, I shall give first to these (on the left). The boy said: No, by Lord, Messenger of Allah, I do not want to let anyone have my share of what is left from your lips. Allah's Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) then gave it first to him. (Malik)
His left over food a healing
Hadrat Abu Omamah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that a woman used to rattle on ceaselessly and unrestrained. She came to the Holy Prophet's (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) presence. He was eating mutton at that time and so he gave her a piece of it. The woman asked him to give her that piece which was in his auspicious mouth. So he took it out and gave it to her. She ate it up, whereby she became alright, her tongue became controllable and she ceased to run off at the mouth and lather. (Tirmidhi)
His saliva a healing
Narrated Yazid bin Abi 'Ubaid: I saw the trace of a wound in Hadrat Salama's (may Allah be pleased with him) leg. I said to him, O Abu Muslim! What is this wound?" He said, "This was inflicted on me on the day of Khaibar and the people said, "Salama has been wounded.' Then I went to the Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and he puffed his saliva in it (i.e. the wound) thrice, and since then I have not had any pain in it till this hour." (Bukhari)
Satan cannot imitate him
Hadrat Abdallah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reports the Prophetic statement that,"He who saw me in dream, he saw me really, for Satan cannot make his face like mine." (Tirmidhi)
His exalted position
Narrated Hadrat Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him): On the Day of Resurrection the people will fall on their knees and every nation will follow their prophet and they will say, "O so-and-so! Intercede (for us with Allah), "till (the right) intercession is given to Prophet Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) and that will be the day when Allah will raise him to a station of praise and glory (i.e. Al-Maqam -al-Mahmud). (Bukhari)
The merit of his Ziyara
Hadrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that Rasulullah (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) said: Whoever visits my grave, my intercession becomes obligatory for him." (Dar-Qutni)

The Five Pillars of Islam

The five pillars of Islam are Shahadah, Salah, Zakah, Sawm and Hajj. We as Muslims have to perform these pillars because Allah has commanded us to perform them. Shahadah means declaration of faith, Salah means the five daily compulsory prayers, Zakah means poor-due, Sawm means fasting in the month of Ramadan and Hajj is the Muslim Pilgrimage to Makkah.
The first pillar of Islam, Shahadah means declaration of faith. The Shahadah is Laa Ilaaha Illallah Muhammad ur Rasulullah. These words mean that “None is worth of worship but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”. This declaration is called Kalimah Tayyibah. It summarizes the whole of Islamic belief. The other four pillars make up Ibadah which is done to gain Allah’s favor. Shahadah concerns belief in Tawhid (Oneness of Allah) and Risalah (Messengership) of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
The second pillar of Islam is Salah which means five daily compulsory prayers. When the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, went on Mi’raj he was given the five daily Salah. First we pray Fajr. Its time is from dawn until just before sunrise. Second is Zuhr. Its time is after mid-day until the afternoon. Third is Asr. Its time is from late afternoon until just before sunset. Fourth is Maghrib. Its time is after sunset until darkness sets in. Fifth is Isha. Its at night time until just before dawn. We should start praying Salah at seven years of age, at ten we should get hit if we don’t pray.
The third pillar of Islam is Zakah which means poor-due. Zakah is payable on wealth such as agricultural produce, gold and silver ornaments, cash in hand or at the bank, trading goods, cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep and camels and, produce of mines. There is a minimum amount on which Zakah is not payable. This minimum amount is called nisab. Those who have more than this minimum amount have to pay Zakah. The nisab of agricultural produce is 653 kg per harvest. The nisab for gold and silver ornaments is 85 grams of gold or 595 grams of silver. The nisab for cash in hand or at the bank is value of 595 grams of silver. The nisab for trading goods is value of 595 grams of silver. The nisab for goats and sheep is 40 in number.
Zakah is paid every year. The rate of Zakah for agricultural produce is 5 percent produce in case of irrigated land or 10 percent of produce from rain-fed land. The rate of Zakah for gold and silver ornaments is 2.5 percent of value. The rate of Zakah for cash in hand or at the bank is 2.5 percent of the amount. The rate of Zakah for trading goods is 2.5 percent value of goods. The rate of Zakah for produce of mines is 20 percent of value of produce. If we pay Zakah we keep our wealth clear of greed and selfishness.
The fourth pillar of Islam is Sawm which means fasting in the month of Ramadan. This means abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking and conjugal relations during the time of fasting. Travelers and sick people can defer from fasting in the month of Ramadan and they can make up for the fasts later. The duty of fasting is only for Allah’s sake and Allah Himself will reward for it. A Muslim is expected to keep away from all bad actions during his/her fast. He shouldn’t lie, break a promise or do any deceitful act. The main thing of fasting is to make a Muslim able to control his/her passions, so that he/she becomes a person of good deeds and intentions. In addition to the compulsory fasting in Ramadan, a Muslim may fast during other times of the year.
The fifth pillar of Islam is Hajj which is the Pilgrimage to Makkah. It is a visit to Al-Ka’bah, the House of Allah in Makkah, once in a lifetime by those who can afford to make the journey. Its is performed during the period of the 8th to the 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calender. Al-Ka’bah was first built by Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, and later rebuild by Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon him, and his son Prophet Ismail, peace be upon him. When the Muslims perform Hajj, they also visit the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in Madina, as it is Sunnah.
We should act according to the five pillars of Islam to please Allah, and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.