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 tat 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).