When we scrutinize the Seerah of the Prophet (saaws), we can extract many lessons that, if acted upon, can have a profound impact upon our thinking, outlook and behavior - as individuals and as an Ummah. Unfortunately, many times the Seerah (life history) of the Prophet (saaws) is taught to us as a mere history that we admire as historians, but not as a source of legislation for us and a reference for our actions and behavior. Indeed, the same stories are regurgitated to us, with extreme attention given to redundant details, while the overall crux of such incidents is glossed over. Therefore, crucial to our revival is to revive the manner in which we look at our own history, and in particular the history of our beloved Prophet (saaws). Because the Prophet (saaws) is the Messenger of Allah, then his actions and sayings are also a revelation and a source of legislation for us, and his life history as a Prophet and Messenger should also serve as a reference for us as well.

One such incident that many of us are familiar with is the incident during the Battle of the Ditch in which the Muslims were digging the trench around the city of Madinah. As we all know, this was an extremely tense situation for the Muslims, as Quraysh amassed an alliance composed of many Arab tribes to eliminate the Muslims once and for all. Further exasperating the situation was the fact that many Jewish tribes were part of this alliance, and even some Jewish tribes with whom the Prophet (saaws) had a treaty broke their covenant and sided with the enemy. The atmosphere of fear that was generated was such that, according to the narrations, the Muslims felt their hearts were at their throats, and the Prophet (saaws) prohibited the Muslims from venturing beyond the confines of the city. Within the context of this situation, the Muslims were digging the trench around Madinah in preparation for the pending invasion, and suddenly they came upon a huge rock. The Prophet (saaws) struck the rock three times, saying ''Allahu Akbar'' after each blow. When the Muslims inquired as to why he uttered those words, the Prophet (saaws) said that he saw the Muslims conquering Persia after the first strike, and Bahrain after the second strike, and conquering Yemen after the third strike.

There are several lessons that can be derived from this incident. The one that is oft mentioned is that, as Muslims we should always have the confidence and trust in Allah (swt), regardless of how desperate our situation is. However, one lesson that is not frequently mentioned - and one that should shape the character of the Muslim Ummah as profoundly - is that this incident demonstrates a quality that is unique to the Islamic personality: Selflessness. Islam is not a selfish deen, and as such, the Muslims are not a selfish Ummah, meaning that we do not possess a self-centered persona that drives us to worry exclusively about ourselves and our own affairs. Allah (swt) entrusted the Muslims with the responsibility of saving humanity in this life by applying the Islamic system and way of life upon all people of the world, and saving humanity in the Hereafter by presenting Islam to the people. Thus, we Muslims are the caretakers of humanity, and this responsibility is one that Allah (swt) has designated us with and will hold us accountable on the Day of Judgment. This responsibility creates within us the quality of selflessness, meaning that we as Muslims do not only look to ourselves and show concern for our own situation, but we also look to the affairs of ALL HUMANITY and show concern for others, because the responsibility of taking care of humanity by applying the justice of the Islamic system and saving humanity from Hell-Fire in the Hereafter is our responsibility.

In this regard, the Muslim Ummah is unique because human beings, by nature, tend towards selfishness and showing concern only for themselves and their kind, and this tendency naturally stems from our survival instinct. Therefore, we will find that other nations are either concerned for their own affairs, or if they do show any type of concern for others, such concern manifests only if they perceive a material interest in doing so. When the issue of extending help to others or showing concern for others arises, we often hear people utter phrases such as ''what is in it for us?'' Such a thinking is alien to the Muslim because in Islam, our concern for others is not linked to any benefit (material or otherwise). Rather, our concern for humanity is PART OF OUR BELIEF, and the responsibility that the Muslims have (or should feel) in applying Islam and presenting Islam to the world stems from this belief. Our concern and feeling of responsibility is directly linked to pleasing Allah (swt), by obeying His orders, one of which is to fulfill our responsibilities to humanity.

The quality of selfishness becomes far more pronounced during times of crisis and desperation, such as the time that Muslims were facing in Madina, when they felt that their own lives were about to be extinguished. However, in spite of such an atmosphere of desperation, where the feelings of selfishness would be at their peak, the Prophet (saaws) was informing the Muslims that they would be conquering the world, reminding the Muslims of their responsibility of delivering Islam to the world. Nowadays, the Muslim Ummah is in a crisis situation, and everywhere we look, we feel desperation and under siege. In such a situation, we as Muslims have become so self-centered that we have forgotten our responsibilities as an Ummah. We have devolved from an Ummah that is concerned about saving humanity and carrying Islam to the world, to an Ummah that is concerned about feeding our stomachs! And the more we become responsive to our instincts and entangle ourselves and our resources in tending exclusively to our immediate needs, the more we distance ourselves from the responsibility that Allah (swt) has endowed us with and distinguished the Muslim Ummah by.For example, Muslims would feel the issue of occupation of any Muslim land only if the occupation resulted in oppression of Muslims, influx of refugees, killing and raping of Muslims, or other material effects. However, if the occupiers respected the ''individual rights'' of Muslims, and Muslims prospered under their occupation, then the masses would be heedless and live happily under the kufr legislations.

"Beautified for men is the love of things they covet: women, children, much of gold and silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is the pleasure of the present world’s life; but Allah has the excellent return with Him." [ 3:14]

We cannot carry on in this manner, responding in an instinctive manner like the animals. While we have immediate needs that cannot be ignored, our focus should be towards fulfilling our greater responsibility. Only through the fulfillment of our responsibility of applying Islam in its entirety will we as Muslims have the engine that will enable us to carry the Islamic message to the world and to fulfill all of our needs as well as the needs of humanity in an effective manner.

May Allah (swt) help us understand Islam correctly and purify our thoughts of all alien ideas so that we can worship Him correctly and fulfill our responsibilities in this life.