The Revolution of the Prophet

THE REVOLUTION OF THE PROPHET Exaltation of the Word of God Just as traffic lights are erected at crossroads to guide and control traffic, prophets have been sent by God to stand on the roads of life, show travellers the road leading to heaven, and warn them to steer clear of what leads to hell. The Quran has put this in the following words: Thus We have made of you a people justly balanced, that you may be witnesses over the nations, and the Prophet a witness over yourselves.51 For this purpose, when polytheism first displaced monotheism as the predominant religion of humanity, prophets came to the world. Bestowing on the knowledge of the truth, God sent them to guide people along the right path and warn them to steer clear of evil. All of the prophets fully discharged this responsibility. Their teaching of truth was both understandable and reasonable. Moreover, they left no stone unturned in their communication of truth: those who believed in them became worthy of paradise, while those who rejected them made themselves fit only for hell. Yet God wanted more than a mere proclamation of truth on earth; He wanted it to be exalted once again. Proclamation of truth necessitates its complete exposition before us. It is to make the truth clear to all listeners, to enlighten them, using the “wise and mild exhortation” that the Quran prescribes for preachers of truth.52 People are left with no excuse for not accepting the truth when this is done. They can no longer say that they were left in ignorance. The only