Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) in the mirror of the holy Qur’an

On the occasion of Islamic Unity Week bridging the two dates of the month of Rabi al-Awwal believed to be the birthday of the Messenger of Mercy, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), we have prepared a series of special articles for you.

Rabi al-Awwal 12 is considered to be that blessed date by Sunni Muslims on the basis of the narrations of the Prophet’s companions, who had no acquaintance with him before his formal declaration of his universal mission of Islam at the age of 40. Shi’a Muslims, however, attach more importance to accounts of the Prophet’s birth from the Prophet’s family and regard 17^th Rabi al-Awwal as the date of birth of the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger.

In 1979, following victory of the Iranian people’s grassroots movement, the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (RA), initiated the Islamic Unity Week to bridge the short gap between these two dates in order to foster solidarity among Muslims of all denominations.

As the Seal of Divine Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was the noblest of all human beings, and was sent to mankind as “Mercy unto the whole creation.” He was such a perfect person in every sense of the word to the extent that God has called him the Most Excellent Exemplar for the human race. He was entrusted by God with the holy Qur’an, the last and final heavenly scripture for the guidance of all mankind, and he practically set the precedent by molding his life upon divine revelation, so that people endeavour to emulate his excellent behaviour.

Ever since childhood, the undeclared Prophet, who was commanded by the Almighty to proclaim his universal mission of Islam at the age of 40, had won the admiration of the society of Mecca, as the Amin or the Trustworthy and the Sadeq or the Truthful.

He was endeared by all for his spotlessly pure characteristics that won the hearts of all those who came into contact with him.

God has granted miracles to His prophets to enable them to prove their mission to the doubting masses. A miracle, which could be called a stream that flows through the permission of God, was always coupled with the logic and rationality of the Prophet. The holy Qur’an has mentioned many of the miracles performed by the prophets, such as Moses and Jesus (peace upon them). Each of the Prophets presented to the doubters their own peculiar miracles, according to the time, place and conditions, which means their miracles were time-bound, without being durable or trans-regional. In other words, with the changes in the circumstances, these miracles lost their significance. Moreover, the period of the missions of the prophets, even the great among them, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace upon them), was limited. Thus, since God entrusted the universal message of Islam to Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), and decreed his mission to be everlasting, He granted him a miracle transcending time, places, geography and all future eras. To be more precise the eternal miracle of the Prophet of Islam is the holy Qur’an, whose flawless eloquence and timeless wisdom remains unmatched till this day despite the passing of almost 15 centuries. The wordings of the holy Qur’an, which none, not even the Arab literati, can emulate, remain as fresh as they were when they were revealed to the Prophet. Even non-Muslim scholars have expressed amazement at the contents of the holy Qur’an and conceded that unlike the Judo-Christian gospels, which have been interpolated over the centuries, the heavenly scripture in the possession and in the memory of the Muslims, has remained unsullied.

The holy Qur’an refers to many of the peerless qualities of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA); for instance in ayah 28 of Surah Fath, God Almighty says:

“It is He Who has sent His Prophet with guidance and the true religion that He may make it prevail over all religions, and Allah suffices as witness.”

The holy Qur’an also points out that Prophets have degrees of excellence, as we read in ayah 253 of Surah Baqarah, where God says:

“These are the prophets, some of whom We gave an advantage over others:”

It means that Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), though enjoying many of the virtues of the Great Prophets such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, excelled over them, and during respective eras they had informed their nations of the coming of the Last and Greatest Prophet with the universal message of Islam.

God Almighty teaches Muslims on how to show proper respect for Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and be courteous in his presence, as God says in ayah 2 of Surah Hujurat:

“O you who have faith! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet, and do not speak aloud to him as you shout to one another, lest your works should fail without your being aware.”

Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) was sent by God as mercy unto the whole creation, as mentioned in ayah 107 of Surah Anbiya, and that is why the heavenly scripture says in ayah 33 of Surah Anfaal:

“But Allah will not punish them while you are in their midst,”

This ayah shows that the presence of the holy Prophet keeps the Ummah immune from divine punishment. The Prophet himself says in this regard: “My people, like the nations of the past, will not be punished, such as the divine wrath that struck the people to whom Prophet Lot was sent.”

The heart of the Prophet is very compassionate and he is always concerned about the sufferings of human beings. In ayah 128 of Surah Towbah, God says:

“There has certainly come to you a Prophet from among yourselves. Grievous to him is your distress; he has deep concern for you, and is most kind and merciful to the faithful.”

The Prophet’s First Infallible Heir, Imam Ali (AS), says in one of his sermons in the famous book Nahj al-Balagha:

“Allah sent Muhammad (SAWA) with the Truth so that he may take out people from the worship of idols towards His worship and from obeying Satan towards obeying Him and sent him with the Qur'an which He explained and made strong, in order that the people may know their sustainer (Allah) since they were ignorant of Him.”

At the end of this brief radio programme, while saluting the Prophet and his blessed progeny, we refer to the Me’raj or ascension to the highest point in the heaven and back to Planet Earth by the Prophet of Islam in a fraction of a night, is an unparalleled event, regarding which God Almighty has mentioned in the holy Qur’an. In ayah 46 of Surah Ahzaab, God introduces the Prophet of Islam as the "Radiant Lamp". History bears witness that the presence of the Prophet, wherever he was, would enlighten the atmosphere, and for the seekers of truth, their hearts were attracted to him.

FK/AS/ME