Is it not regarded as infliction on animals for the Prophet Muhammad to make horses and camels run and race?

- The Prophet Muhammad was more loyal to his relatives than other people. Is it not regarded as nepotism?

- Is it regarded as worship to love the Prophet Muhammad?...

Dear Brother / Sister,

The answers to those questions are related to strong belief in Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

“But no, by the Lord, they can have no (real) Faith, until they make thee judge in all disputes between them, and find in their souls no resistance against Thy decisions, but accept them with the fullest conviction.” (an-Nisa, 4/65)

The dimension of surrendering, which is a result of belief, is indicated in the verse above.

Doubtlessly, that is not the purpose of the question but to understand the wisdom behind it. 

We will deal with the issue from this point of view and try to analyze it.

- Allah created some animals to carry loads.

“And unto Allah leads straight the Way, but there are ways that turn aside: if Allah had willed, He could have guided all of you.” (an-Nahl, 16/9)

This fact is indicated in the verse above. Allah regarded this appropriate for the animals He created to carry loads and to be ridden. To have more compassion than Allah’s compassion is a disorder and a wrong compassion.

Similarly, camels and horses are allowed to race in Islam – based on certain conditions. This running probably will increase their inborn ability to run; it is not a problem for them; even if it is a temporary problem, there will always be a pleasure that they will take due to this ability that they develop. If it were infliction on animals, would the Prophet (pbuh) have allowed it?    

- The statement “The Prophet Muhammad was more loyal to his relatives than other people” is very general. It is ordered in the Quran that everybody take care of their own relatives first. Since the Prophet (pbuh) obeys Allah’s commands more than anybody else, it is natural that he treats his relatives better than anybody else.

- It is not possible to find any information that the Prophet favored his close relatives or that he gave them financial means illegitimately. 

 “Once Hz. Fatima wanted a maid for her. The Messenger of Allah said,

‘How can I give you a maid when Ahl as-Suffa are hungry?’ Then, he taught her a prayer.” (Kanzul-Ummal, h. no:41978)

- When some people wanted a woman of noble origin to be forgiven for the theft she committed, he said, 

“By Allah, if Muhammad’s daughter had committed such a crime, I would punish her too.” (Bukhari, Hudud, Tuhfatul-Ahwazi, 4/697)

Can a conscientious person who hears this sincere statement of the Prophet think differently? 

“Say: ‘No reward do I ask of you for this except the love of those near of kin.’” (ash-Shura, 42/23)

If what is meant in the question is the verse above, Badiuzzaman Said Nursi interpreted it very concisely and beautifully:   

“If it is asked: According to this, it seems there is an advantage to be gained from a family relationship. Whereas, according to the meaning of اِنَّ اَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللّٰهِ اَتْقَيكُمْ (The most honored of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you) prophethood functions in respect of closeness to Allah, not of family relationships?"  

"The answer: With his vision that penetrated the Unseen, Allah’s Most Noble Messenger (pbuh) saw that his family would become a light-giving tree in the world of Islam. It would be from his family that the overwhelming majority of those persons who would act as guides and preceptors instructing every level of the world of Islam in human attainment and perfection would emerge. He divined that his community’s prayer for his family in the final section of the prescribed prayers. There are numerous narrations corroborating this fact. He repeatedly decreed:

"I leave you two things. If you adhere to them, you will find salvation: one is Allah’s Book, the other is my Family."

For, members of his family were the source and guardians of his practices (Sunna) and were charged with complying with them in every respect...

"This is why what was intended by this Hadith was adherence to the Book and the Prophet’s practices. That is to say, in respect of the office of messengership it was the Prophet’s (UWBP) practices that were sought from his family. So no one who abandoned his practices could truly be a member of his family, nor could such a person not be a true friend to them.” (see Lem'alar, p. 21)

- It is definitely a deed of worship to love Hz. Muhammad (pbuh) because loving him will strengthen love of Allah. Since love of Allah is a deed of worship, loving His messenger is also a deed of worship. It is necessary to consider the hadiths in question within this context.  

Love saves man. However, it is necessary for love to be sincere. Love does not consist of words only. A sincere love is reflected on deeds and attitudes. This fact is emphasized in the verse below:    

“Say: ‘If ye do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’” (Aal-i Imran, 3/31)

The Prophet (pbuh) states the following in a sound hadith:

“A person is not regarded to be a believer unless he loves me more than his family and wealth.” (Muslim, Iman, 69,70)

It means loving the Prophet (pbuh) is a deed of worship.

Questions on Islam