Muhammad Nabi Cinta, a book describing the figure of Muhammad, had been controversial enough discussion because it was written by a famous Christian, Dr Craig Consigne. As a sociology, Craig was very interested in studying pluralism, American Muslims, the relations between Christianity and Islam, and of course, Muhammad’s life. This book was the manifestation result of his love for Muhammad.
The figure of Muhammad was to a prophet who had been delegated by God and had disseminated love for all creatures. As a result, his existence became a mercy to the universe. Previously, as a teenager, Craig thought that Islam was Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, and the violence as the media described it. But, after he had studied in one of the most renowned universities in America—American University—and met with Prof. Akbar Akhmed, his perception about Islam changed totally.
He started falling in love and learning about Muhammad’s struggle deeply. This book will find some of his exciting descriptions of Muhammad’s affection, especially when Muhammad faced the assorted character people in Makkah. For example, in the middle of Jahiliah society, Muhammad was an anti-racism model for the years. So it can be seen when Bilal ibn Rabah got the indignity from Abu Dzar Al-Ghifary. “a son of a black woman”. Said Abu Dzar.
Heard about it, Muhammad reprimanded Abu Dzar directly. “you were the person who was still Jahiliah character in yourself”. His statement augured that the ignorance of Abu Dzar based on the Jahiliah situation in the “pre-Islam” era, a term in Arabic meaning “ the darkness without the guide of God”. This period happened in the history of Arabs, before Muhammad, marked with savageness and lawlessness.
Muhammad SAW averred that social exclusion and subordination based on race and tribe could not be allowed in the pure society of Islam. Before Muhammad revealed his message, the Arabic community was so proud of their tribal and ethnic identity. Even the tribe and ethnicity were the social qualification and system of society Arab organization. Muhammad’s gospels changed that social norm. In other words, he impressed the importance of godliness to Arab’s fellow man not from the same tribal as honours. (Pages 11)
It was Muhammad’s dedication to the values of humanity. Still, about Muhammad’s affection, Craig also brought to light Muhammad’s interfaith view. Based on The Covenants of The Prophet Muhammad – a book written by Dr John Andrew Morrow—given a detailed report about Muhammad’s character and attitude as seen from encounters along with his life with the hermits, monks, pastors, and Jewry.
Morrow said that these numerous experiences explained that Muhammad had “self-assurance in his ability controlled the spiritual solidarity of the bible scholar”, or believers in the tradition of Abrahamiah. Morrow also affirmed Muhammad had similarities with the Christian than pagans in his environment. One of Muhammad’s agreements analyzed by Morrow was the agreement with the monks in Sinai. An agreement that is fighting for peace and universal harmony between Christianity and Moslem.
In that agreement, Muhammad called Muslims to respect the magistrates and churches of Christ, and the Muslims did not war against their Christian brother. Muhammad had also ever made a Madinah Constitution unite all Madinah citizens from the varied faith. The Constitution of Madinah contained the noteworthiness of human rights in Islam. It declared that the Islamic state citizens was one and could not be classified whatever their religion.
Both the pagans, bible scholars, and Moslem were part of that constitution, meaning to be in the same ummah. By doing that, Muhammad created a plurality government that protecting religious freedom. In this context, the Constitution of Madinah was not only a revolutionary document for human rights but also revealed a democratic spirit. Accordingly, the figure of Muhammad was the leading defender of diversity. Muhammad “constructing a rare form of social justice at any time ”. Said Morrow. (Pages 89)
There is much grateful thing in Muhammad himself. Broadly, the discussion of this book is divided into three sections. The first, relations between Muhammad with Islamic and tolerance. The second, Islamic and civilization. And the third, Islamic and politic. The critical point is to see Muhammad as a prophet of love, especially in the middle of Arab and accounts for the universe.
Until now, it is very seldom the Christian trying to study the figure of Muhammad deeply. This book is at least a piece of absolutely perfect evidence describing Muhammad well. We also need to enrich our insight into the life story of Muhammad from a different perspective. One of them is from a Christian. Indirectly, this book will be able to change the destructive paradigm of orientalism about Islam so far by presenting a figure of Muhammad as a prophet of love from a Christian, Craig Consigne. Wallahu A’lam.
Book Data
Tittle : Muhammad Nabi Cinta
Author : Dr. Craig Consigne
Publisher : Noura Publishing
Published : The First, September 2018
Thick : 182 pages
ISBN : 978-602-385-538-4