Proofs that the Messenger of Allah was sent to All Mankind (1/2)

Proof from the Qur’an:

Allah, Exalted be He, says,

“Say (O Muhammad): ‘O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah - to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.’” (Surah Al-A’raf, 7:158)

“And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most men know not.” (Surah Saba’, 34: 28)

There are many other verses in the Qur’an in which the people of the Book, the Jews and Christians, the disbelievers, the idolaters and all mankind and even the Jinn are called to Islam, and this is an acknowledged fact. So, how strange it is to say that Muhammad was sent only for the Arabs, although his call, messengers, and battles were all directed to the Jews, Christians and Magi after the disbelievers?

Allah, Exalted be He, mentions in the Glorious Qur'an the disbelief of those who disbelieved from amongst the Jews and the Christians. He also commands the Muslims to fight them, as for example, in the following verses:

“Surely, they have disbelieved who say: ‘Allah is the Messiah (Isa (Jesus)), son of Maryam (Mary).’ But the Messiah (‘Isa (Jesus)) said: ‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Verily, whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allah, then Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and the Fire will be his abode. And for the Zhalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) there are no helpers. Surely, the disbelievers are those who said: ‘Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).’ But there is no Ilah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilah (God -Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them. Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. The Messiah Isa (Jesus)), son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother (Maryam (Mary)) was a Siddiqah (i.e. she believed in the words of Allah and His Books (see verse 66:12)]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them, yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth). Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him) to mankind): ‘How do you worship besides Allah something which has no power either to harm or to benefit you? But it is Allah Who is the All-Hearer, All-Knower.' Say (O Muhammad): ‘O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Exceed not the limits in your religion (by believing in something) other than the truth, and do not follow the vain desires of people who went astray in times gone by, and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the Right Path.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5: 72-77)

Proof from the Sunnah:

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, “I have been favored (by Allah) over all other Prophets with six (gifts which are): (i) I have been granted (the gift of uttering) the shortest expressions that bear the widest meanings, (ii) Allah made me victorious by means of awe, (by His frightening my enemies), (iii) the spoils of war were made lawful for me (iv) the earth was made for me (and my followers) a place for praying and a (means of) purification (i.e. one can pray in case there is no water through performing Tayammum (Dry Ablution, i.e. wiping one's hands with pure dust) (v) and I am the last of the Prophets.”[1]

He (peace be upon him) also said, “Every Prophet was sent to his nation only but I have been sent to all mankind.”[2]

The proof mentioned above, as well as a lot of other evidence establish the fact that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was sent to the Christians and to all other people as well. They also prove that he called them to Islam and he fought those who refused his two options, i.e., either to embrace Islam or to pay Jizyah, which was what he had been commanded by Allah.

The Related Facts Unanimously Agreed Upon by Muslim Scholars:

Muslims unanimously agree that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was sent to all nations. He was indeed sent to both mankind and Jinn. They also agree upon the fact that anyone who disbelieves in him is a disbeliever and deserves Allah’s punishment and that such a person should be fought and struggled against. This is what the people who believe in Allah and His Messenger agree upon, because it is the command of Allah that is mentioned in the Qur’an and illustrated by His Prophet. Allah, the Almighty is the One Who revealed the Book (i.e., the Qur’an) and wisdom upon him, so Muslims did not innovate any of that by themselves as the Christians did in their religion. They (Christians) forged most of it and altered the true religion of Christ. That was why the Christians were regarded as disbelievers when Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was sent, just as the Jews were when Christ (peace be upon him) was sent.

After all these illustrations, if any Jew or Christian claims that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was not sent to them, will be considered an obstinately disobedient person, who denies what is plain and acknowledged about the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). This is well known and acknowledged by ordinary people as well as by scholars.

Moreover, anyone who claims that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) said that he was sent to the polytheist Arabs only is either extremely ignorant and misguided, or totally obstinate and ostentatious. Such a person is more ignorant and obstinate than the one who denies that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) did not command Muslims to purify themselves and perform ritual bathing after being in the state of major ritual impurity (i.e., after sexual intercourse). He is also more ignorant than the one who denies that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) forbade drinking wine and eating pork. He is even more ignorant than he who denies the Prophethood of Christ and Musa (Moses, peace be upon them).

In this way, the invalidity of the claim that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was only sent to the pagan Arabs has been proven.

(Continued)

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[1] Recorded by Muslim in, Kitabul-Masajid, hadith no. 523, p. 5. At-Tirmidhy, Kitabus-Siyar, hadith no. 1553 and Ahmad in his Musnad, vol. 2, p. 412.

[2] Recorded by Al-Bukhary, Kitabut-Tayammum, hadith no. 335 from the narration of Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansary, and by Muslim, Kitabul-Masajid hadith no. 521, p. 3. According to the latter's version, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation only but I have been sent to every (one with) a red or black (complexion) (i.e., to all races)."