The Everlasting Message of Islam-Part Two

The Life and Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH)

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was modest and shy and had never shown himself in front of anyone since he came of age. He was innocent and pious and felt hurt when he saw his people worshipping idols, drinking alcohol, and shedding innocent blood. He related with them only in those deeds of theirs which he loved and was pleased with and kept away from them when they indulged in their shameless acts and sins. He would help the orphans and the widows and feed the hungry.

When he was close to forty years of age, he became seriously constrained and inconvenienced by the corruption around him and started asking for seclusion to worship his Lord and ask Him for guidance to the Straight Path. While he was on this condition, one of the angels descended upon him with a revelation from his Lord and he commanded him to convey this religion to mankind; to call them to the worship of Allah alone and to shun the worship of others besides him.

Then, the Revelation of ordainments and rules continued day after day and year after year until Allah perfected this religion for mankind and completed His favor on them with this perfection. After the Messenger of Allah had fulfilled his duty, Allah caused him to die. He lived for sixty-three years; forty before prophethood and twenty-three as a Prophet and Messenger.

Whoever ponders over the conditions of the Prophets and studies their history will know with certainty that there was no way in which the Prophethood of any Prophet was established except that the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) was established in that way more. The Prophethood of Moses (PBUH) and Jesus (PBUH) was transmitted in succession. However, the succession in which the Prophethood of Muhammad (PBUH) was transmitted was greater, stronger, and more recent.

Likewise, the succession in which their miracles were transmitted were similar but that which the miracles of Muhammad (PBUH) were transmitted is greater, for his miracles are many and the greatest of that is the Glorious Quran which continues to be transmitted successively in voice and letter.

Whoever makes a comparison between what Prophets Moses (PBUH) and Jesus (PBUH) brought and what was brought by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) of sound belief, wise ordainments, and useful knowledge,  will know will certainty that all of them emanated from single lamp; the lamp of Prophethood.

Whoever compares the conditions of the followers of the Prophets and followers of Muhammad (PBUH) will know with certainty that the followers of Muhammad (PBUH) were the best of all people and most of the Prophet’s followers in impact on those who came after them. They have spread Islamic Monotheism, propagated justice, and were merciful to the weak and destitute. (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa Vol.4 p.201,211; and Ifaamul yahood by Samaw’ Al-Magribi p.58-59)

The Evidence of Muhammad's (PBUH) Prophethood

If you want additional evidence of Muhammad’s Prophethood, I will quote to you the proofs and signs that were found by ‘Alee bin Rabbn at-Tabaree when he was a Christian. He later embraced Islam because of those signs. They are:

1. The Messenger called to the worship of Allah alone and shunning the worship of others besides Him. In this, he agreed with all other Prophets.

2. He showed clear signs that only Prophets of Allah can show.

3. He predicted the coming events, and they came to pass as he had predicted.

4. He predicted the occurrence of many events in the world and its countries, and these events came to pass as he had predicted.

5. That the Book brought by Muhammad – the Quran- is a sign of Prophethood for it is the most eloquent Book, sent down unto an illiterate man who could neither read nor write, but yet challenged the orators to produce the like thereof or the like of a Surah in it (Surah means degree. Islamically, it is a section of the glorious Quran that contains a group of verses that may or may not be related in meaning. Some translators do translate it as a chapter which is quite inaccurate because a chapter is a combination of paragraphs in which related issues are discussed).

6. That he is the seal of all Prophets and that had he not been sent, prophecies of the past Prophets who gave glad tidings of his advent would have turned false.All prophets had prophesied about him before his advent for a long time. They had described his mission, his country, and the submission of other nations and kings to him and his nation. They also mentioned the spread of his religion.

7. His victories over nations that wage war against him as a sign of his Prophethood, for it would be impossible for a man who falsely claims to be a Messenger of Allah and yet be strengthened by Allah with victory, authority, prevalence over enemies, spread of his message and abundance of his followers; for all that cannot happen except in the hand of a truthful Prophet.

8. His religious rites and acts of worship, his decency, truthfulness, commendable character, manners, and ordinances. All this cannot be found together except in a Prophet.

Testimonies from Scholars and Converts

After mentioning these proofs, this guided man then said, “These are illuminating traits and sufficient proofs. Whoever is endowed with them must be a Prophet; such a person has hit the target and prospered; and the belief in him is mandatory. Whoever rejects these proofs and denies them has incurred loss in his efforts and lost his worldly life and Hereafter.”

Finally, I will conclude with a narration of the testimony of our contemporary Christian Evangelist John Saint who said, “After continuous reading about Islam and its principles that serve individuals and society and its justice in establishing a society based on foundations of equality and monotheism, I found myself embracing Islam with all my sense and spirit and I pledged to Allah, may He be glorified – that I would be a propagator of Islam and an evangelist to its guidance in all parts of the word.”

This man has arrived at this certainty after having studied Christianity and becoming well-versed in it. He found that it could not provide answers to many questions of human life. So, he started doubting it. Later, he studied Communism and Buddhism but yet could not find what he wanted there. He finally studied Islam deeply, then believed in it and called unto it. (Ad-Deen Al-Fitree Al-Abadee by Al-Mubashir At-Taraazee Al-Husaynee 2 p.319)