Proofs that the Messenger of Allah was sent to All Mankind (2/2)

Some Qur’anic verses that prove the Prophethood of Muhammad

Allah, the Almighty mentions in the verses of the Qur’an, that the people of the Book used to invoke Allah for the coming of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in order to gain victory over the pagan Arabs, before his mission. They used to fight against the Arabs and the Arabs used to defeat them, whereupon they would say, “Verily, Allah will send an illiterate Prophet from amongst the offspring of Isma'il (Ishmael, Peace be upon him) whom we will follow. Under his leadership we will defeat and destroy you with utter destruction.” Then, they would proceed to tell the features and the description of the promised Prophet. This is well-known from the continuous narrations descending from one century to the next illustrating that meaning. Allah, the Exalted, says:

“And when there came to them (the Jews), a Book (this Qur’an) from Allah confirming what is with them (the Tawrah (Torah) and the InjiI (Gospel)), although aforetime they had invoked Allah (for the coming of Muhammad Peace be upon him) in order to gain victory over those who disbelieved, then when there came to them that which they recognized, they disbelieved in it. So let the Curse of Allah be on the disbelievers.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 89)

The signs and miracles, which prove the prophethood of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) exceeded one thousand. Examples of these miracles are: the splitting of the moon, the miraculous Qur’an, information about the people of the   Scripture before him, the glad tidings conveyed by the Prophets concerning him, the story of the elephant which Allah made as a sign before his birth, and the adornment of the sky and making it throw shooting stars upon the devils. In addition, one of the most significant of his miracles was providing information concerning unknown matters about which none had knowledge, except through receiving revelation from Allah, the Exalted and Ever-Majestic. Without being taught by any human, he related what had happened in the past concerning the tales of Nuh (Noah), Hud, Shu'aib, Salih and many others (Peace be upon them all). His people knew very well that he was neither taught by the people of the Book nor by anyone else. In fact, he was illiterate.

We intend here to clarify that the prophet (Peace be upon him) used to tell people about the events of the past with detailed information, which nobody could know but a Prophet or a person informed by a Prophet. His people knew very well that no human being told him about such information and that very matter represented an argument against them. In spite of their strong enmity toward him and their keen desire to seek even the tiniest defect so that they may take it against him, they were unable to find or raise an acceptable argument against him. It was easy for his people to claim that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was taught by some people, but since his people could not accuse him of that, no one else has the right to accuse him of something which his own people were unable to do. The Exalted says,

“This is of the news of the unseen which We reveal unto you (O Muhammad), neither you nor your people knew them before this. So be patient. Surely, the (good) end is for the Muttaqun (pious).” (Surah Hud, 11: 49)

Here it is stated that neither Muhammad nor his people had knowledge of these tales before the revelation of the Qur'an, and his people testified to this truth. So, whoever claims that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taught by any one is telling a manifest lie.

It is also a fact that anyone who dared to claim prophethood falsely, Allah severed his lineage, humiliated him and exposed his lying and immorality in front of all the people. But those who claimed prophethood and were supported by Allah were proven to be truthful. That was what happened when Allah, the Almighty supported Nuh, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), Dawud (David), Sulaiman (Solomon), Shu'aib, Hud and Salih (Peace be upon them all). This is the way of Allah, which is to bestow victory upon His Messengers and the believers who follow them in this life as well as on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth (i.e., on the day of Resurrection), and that is the truth. Thus, whoever fails to acknowledge that this is the way of Allah regarding His prophets, and instead choose to follow those who falsely claim prophethood, have indeed gone astray. Those whose wisdom and sound judgment lead them to know this fact, find it easy to realize that it is impossible for a liar who falsely claims prophethood to achieve his purposes, for Allah will never let his purposes and goals to be accomplished; for He would never help him or grant him victory. On the contrary, He would strike him with a mighty and severe punishment and afflict him with failure in both this life and the next.

Some people of the Scripture and others mention about Allah granted victory to the Pharoh, Namrud, Genghis Khan, and other disbelieving kings. To these people we say that such people did not claim prophethood. Allah commanded leaders to follow His orders and to call to His Worship and Obedience. Those who obey Him shall enter Paradise, and those who disobey Him shall enter the Hellfire.

This is in contrast to anyone who claims prophethood, in which case he is either truthful, and so he and his followers will be supported by Allah, or he is lying, and so Allah will punish him.

Thus, this aspect of the argument is settled.