everywhere! With this essay, I am not singling out the adherents of Islam - to
which I ascribe - but rather I am writing this essay to every man and woman
throughout the whole world.
I ask Allah that He
facilitates that this essay reaches every ear, falls under the sight of every
eye, and is understood by every heart...
Muhammad the son of
`Abdullah is Allah's Prophet and the Final Messenger Sent by Allah to the
Inhabitants of Earth.
My brothers and sisters
everywhere! You should know that the Messenger, Muhammad the son of `Abdullah
(may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) is Allah's Messenger in reality
and truth. The evidences that show his veracity are abundant. None but an
infidel, who out of arrogance alone, could deny these signs.
Among these proofs:
1. Muhammad (may Allah's
blessings and peace be upon him) was raised illiterate, unable to read or
write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he was
known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had
no prior knowledge of Religion or any previously sent Message. He remained
like that for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad with the
Koran that we now have between our hands. This Koran mentioned most of the
accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in
the greatest detail as if he witnessed them. These accounts came precisely as
they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses and in the Gospel sent down to
Jesus. Neither the Jews or Christians were able to belie him regarding
anything that he said.
2. Muhammad (may Allah's
blessings and peace be upon him) also foretold of everything that would occur
to him and his community after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the
tyrannical kingdoms of Chosroes [the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of
Persia] and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout
the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad foretold, as if he was
reading the future from an open book.
3. Muhammad (may Allah's
blessings and peace be upon him) also brought an Arabic Koran that is the peak
of eloquence and clarity. The Koran challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs
of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like
the Koran. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Koran.
Indeed, till our day, none
has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that equal-or
even approach-the order, grace, beauty, and splendor of this Glorious Koran.
4. The life history of this
Noble Prophet was a perfect example of being upright, merciful, compassionate,
truthful, brave, generous, distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all
worldly matters, while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter.
Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of
Allah.
5. Allah instilled great
love for Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) in the hearts
of all who believed in and met him. This love reached such a degree that any
of his companions would willingly sacrifice his (or her) self, mother or
father for him.
Till today, those who
believe in Muhammad honor and love him. Anyone of those who believe in him
would ransom his own family and wealth to see him, even if but once.
6. All of history has not
preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life
of Muhammad, who is the most influential human in history.
Nor has the entire earth
known of anyone whom every morning and evening, and many times thereafter
throughout the day, is thought of by those who believe in him. Upon
remembering Muhammad, the believers in him will greet him and ask Allah to
bless him. They do such with full hearts and true love for him.
7. Nor has there every been
a man on earth whom is still followed in all his doings by those who believe
in him.
Those who believe in
Muhammad, sleep in the manner he slept; purify themselves (through ablution
and ritual washing) in the manner he purified himself; and adhere to his
practice in the way they eat, drink, and clothe themselves.
Indeed in all aspects of
their lives, the believers in Muhammad adhere to the teachings he spread among
them and the path that he traveled upon during his life.
During every generation,
from his day till our time, the believers in this Noble Prophet have fully
adhered to his teachings. With some, this has reached the degree that they
desire to follow and adhere to the Prophet's way in his personal matters
regarding which Allah has not sought of them to adhere to in worship. For
example, some will only eat those specific foods or only wear those specific
garments that the Messenger liked.
Let alone all that, all
those who believe in Muhammad repeat those praises of Allah, special prayers,
and invocations that he would say during each of his actions during day and
night, like: what he would say when he greeted people, upon entering and
leaving the house, entering and leaving the mosque, entering and leaving the
bathroom, going to sleep and awaking from sleep, observing the new crescent,
observing the new fruit on trees, eating, drinking, dressing, riding,
traveling and returning from travel, etc.
Let alone all that, all
those who believe in Muhammad fully perform-even to the minute detail-every
act of worship-like prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage-as this Noble
Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) taught and as he
himself performed.
All of this allows those
who believe in him, to live their lives in all aspects with this Noble
Messenger as their example, as if he was standing before them, for them to
follow in all their doings.
8. There has never been nor
will there ever be a man anywhere upon this earth who has received such love,
respect, honor, and obedience in all matters-small and large alike-as has this
Noble Prophet.
9. Since his day, in every
region of the earth and during every period, this Noble Prophet has been
followed by individuals from all races, colors and peoples. Many of those who
followed him were previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters, or without
any religion. Among those who chose to follow him, were those who were known
for their sound judgment, wisdom, reflection, and foresight. They chose to
follow this Noble Prophet after they witnessed the signs of his truthfulness
and the evidences of his miracles. They did not choose to follow Muhammad out
of compulsion or coercion or because they had adopted the ways of their
fathers and mothers.
Indeed many of the
followers of this Prophet (may Allah's blessings peace be upon him), chose to
follow him during the time when Islam was weak, when there were few Muslims,
and when there was severe persecution of his followers on earth. Most people
who have followed this Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him)
have done so not to acquire some material benefits. Indeed many of his
followers have suffered the greatest forms of harm and persecution as a result
of following this Prophet. Despite all this harm and persecution, this did not
turn them back from his religion.
My brethren! All of this
clearly indicates to anyone possessing any sense, that this Prophet was truly
and really Allah's messenger and that he was not just a man who claimed
prophethood or spoke about Allah without knowledge.
10. With all this, Muhammad
came with a great religion in its credal and legal make-up.
Muhammad described Allah
with qualities of complete perfection, and at the same time in a manner that
is free of ascribing to Him any imperfection. Neither the philosophers or the
wise could ever describe Allah like such. Indeed it is impossible to imagine
that any human mind could conceive of an existing being that possesses such
complete ability, knowledge, and greatness; Who has subdued the creation; Who
has encompassed everything in the universe, small or large; and Who possesses
such perfect mercy.
Nor is it in the ability of
any human being to place a perfect law based upon justice, equality, mercy and
objectivity for all human activity on earth like the laws that Muhammad
brought for all spheres of human activity - like buying and selling, marriage
and divorce, renting, testimony, custody, and all other contracts that are
necessary to uphold life and civilization on earth.
11. It is impossible that
any person conceive wisdom,, morals, good manners, nobleness of characters as
what this honorable Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him)
brought.
In a full and complete
manner, Muhammad spread a teaching regarding character and manners toward one'
parents, relatives, fiends, family, humanity, animals, plants and inanimate
objects. It is impossible for the human mind alone to grasp all of that
teaching or come with a similar teaching.
All of that unequivocally
indicates that this Messenger did not bring an) of this religion from his own
accord, but that it was rather a teaching and inspiration that he received
from the One Who created the earth and the high heavens above and created this
universe in its miraculous architecture and perfection.
12. The legal and credal
make-up of the religion that the Messenger, Muhammad, (may Allah's blessings
and peace be upon him) brought resembles the engineering of the heavens and
the earth. All of that indicates that He who created the heavens and the earth
is the One Who sent down this great law and upright religion.
The degree of inimitability
of the Divine law that was sent down upon Muhammad is to the same degree of
inimitability of the Divine creation of the heavens and earth. For just as
humanity cannot create this universe, in the same manner humanity cannot bring
forth a law like Allah's law that He sent down upon His servant and messenger
Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him).