Continuation from the 1st Page
Theoretical Framework
Sensemaking
Dennis Jaehne explores the process of sensemaking by giving the following example: “imagine yourself in a world before meaning. This is difficult, if not impossible to do, so we will need a metaphor to help us. Suppose I plunk you down in a strange place in total darkness. Now suppose I give you a flashlight. Your first reaction is to shine the light on something so you can see it, so you can begin to make sense of where you are. Gradually, as you shine your beam of light in more and more places, you render your situation more and more meaningful. Places where you don’t shine your light remain in darkness and have no meaning for you yet. Now imagine that words and their concepts work just like your flashlight. When you have a word/ concept for something, it becomes real to you, and meaningful. You can see it in your mind’s eye or in the world around you. You can talk about it to yourself (that is you can think about) or to others…Obviously, communication requires a sender and a message, but also, a receiver. You always alternate between both sender and receiver roles. But both roles require you to interpret the world so that it is meaningful (so that it make sense) to both you and your fellow communicators.” (Baran, S. J. & Davis, D. K. Mass Communication Theory p. 236)
Now let us link the above to the message that the Prophet Muhammad communicated to the humankind.
Jafar son of Abbu Talib acting as the Muslim spokesman to the king of neighboring Abyssinia summarized the teachings of Muhammad to explain their situation thus:
“O King! We were living in ignorance, idolatry and immorality. We honored no relative and assisted no neighbor. The strong among us exploited the weak. Then God sent us a prophet, one of our own people whose descent, conduct and good faith and morality we are all well acquainted. He called us to the unity of God, and taught us not to associate any other being with him. He forbade us the worship of idols, which we and our fathers used to worship. He commanded us always to speak the truth, to remain true to our trust, to love the relatives and to be good neighbors. He forbade us to slander the virtuous women or consume the property of the orphans. He ordered us to fly from vices and to abstain from the evil, to offer prayers, to give alms and to keep the fast. We believed in him; we followed him. Our people, however, persecuted us and sought to bring us back to idolatry and their other abominations. As they made life intolerable for us in Mecca, we chose your country and came here to live under your protection in peace.”
The king refused to deliver up the refugees and the Quraish returned to Mecca discomforted (Zahur-ul-Haque, Muhammad the Greatest Leader, pp. 51-53).
The above statement from Jafar shows what kind of sensemaking that the Prophet made to his people when he started communicating his message. At the last sermon address, the prophet was not addressing his local people only but the humankind at large. The Prophet message made sense at his time and changed the life of the people from the condition that Jafar described above to Islamic nations, their populations exceeds 1.2 billion Muslims. The Prophet last sermon contains universal values and principles if they are applied; there would be justice, fairness and equality between people regardless their races, colors or ethnicity’s.
Significance of the Study
The religion of Islam is misunderstood in the western world. The Muslims images in the west are stereotyped with terrorism and backwardness. Interpreting, analyzing and understanding the last sermon of the Prophet Muhammad would correct the misunderstanding and introduce the religion of Islam with its valuable values and principles to the non Muslims. The values mentioned in the last sermon of the Prophet, if applied, would be a public and private policy. A way of life, every one would enjoy and live in peace with each others regardless their different backgrounds, colors or ethnicity’s.
Universality of the Speech
The Prophet directed his Speech to all humankind. He used the term “O People” seven times. He used the terminology “O Men” once. In the farewell address, the Prophet did not use the terminology “O Muslims” or “O Believer). The prophet intention was to address all people regardless their religions, colors or times (his time or any time after him until the day of Judgement). The Prophet’s message was and still is to every person every where in the world
In Surah Saba’ in the Qur’an Allah Says:
“We have not sent you but as a universal (Messenger) to mankind, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most understand not.” (34:28)
After praising and thanking Allah the Prophet began with the words:
"O People! Lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am saying and take these words to those who could not be present here today."
At the beginning of the address, the prophet asked the people to pay close attention to what he was about to say. He demanded that his message to be delivered to all mankind, to be transformed and transported from place to place and from generation to generation. The task of doing that was laid upon the shoulder of those who were listening to him to deliver his message to all mankinds.(Sakr, 1998, p. 35) Did they deliver his message as he requested? The number of Muslims around the globe would answer this question. There are over 1.2 billions Muslims.
One of the main businesses of the people at the time of the prophet was commerce and trade. The Muslims Merchants as they traveled from land to land, they delivered the message of Islam as they were dealing with people every where they been to.
"O People! Just as you regard this month, this day, this city as sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that he will indeed reckon your deeds." |
