"Say We believe in God and what is revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and I`saac and Jacob and the Tribes, and what was entrusted to Moses and Jesus and the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them and to Him we have surrendered."
(Quran 3: 84)
Shaykh `Abdul Rahman `Abdul Khaliq [Originally
published by IANA]
My brothers and sisters 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).