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[1] Muhammad (peace be upon him) was raised
illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that
till his death. Among all his people (Muslim and Non-Muslim),
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 from Allah through Jibreel
(Gabriel), known as the Qur’an. This Qur’an 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
(peace be upon them). Neither the Jews nor Christians were able
to belie him regarding anything that he said.
[2] Muhammad (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 (peace be upon him) was given
an Arabic Qur’an that is the peak of eloquence and clarity.
The Qur’an challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs
of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single
chapter like the Qur’an. The eloquent Arabs of his day
were unable to contest this Qur’an.
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 Qur’an.
[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
(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 (peace be upon him)
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 (peace be upon him), 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 (peace be upon him), 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 ever been a man on earth
whom is still followed in all his doings by those who believe
in him.
Those who truly believe in Muhammad (peace be upon him), 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 true
believers in Muhammad (peace be upon him) 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 (peace
be upon him) 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 (peace
be upon him) 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 this 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 (peace be upon him) 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 (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 (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.
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 prophet hood or spoke
about Allah without knowledge.
[10] With all this, Muhammad came with a
great religion in its creedal 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 nor 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 (peace be upon him) brought.
In a full and complete manner, Muhammad (peace be upon him)
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 anything 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 creedal make-up of the
religion that the Messenger, Muhammad (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 (peace be upon him) 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
(peace be upon him).
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