Mohammad: Prophet of Revolution

In God’s sight, the prophets stand head and shoulders above the human race. How extraordinary it is, then, that they are the very ones to whom the least historical importance has been attached. History has fully chronicled the lives of kings and soldiers, but not one single prophet’s life has been given its due place in the annals of history. Aristotle (384-322 BC) was born one thousand years after the Prophet Moses, yet he was not even acquainted with Moses’ name. The reason is not far to seek: most of the prophets were rejected by their peoples: their homes were demolished; they were treated as outcasts from society; they appeared so unimportant that no one deemed it necessary to even make any mention of them. Why were the prophets treated in this manner? There was just one reason for this, and that was their criticism of their peoples’ practices. Man loves nothing more than that he should be praised; and he loathes nothing more than that he should be criticised, the prophets came to expose the difference between right and wrong; they made no compromise with their peoples; they persistently pointed out the faults in people’s beliefs and actions. Consequently, people turned against them. If the prophets had taught what people wanted to hear, they would never have been treated in this manner. This was the fate of most of the prophets. A few of them, however, were spared, Joseph, Solomon and David being names that immediately spring to mind. But the power and prestige that these prophets acquired was not due to the popularity of their teachings; they had an entirely separate origin. David was a young soldier in the army of the Israelites under King Saul. During his time the Israelites and Philistines went to war with each other. Among the army of Philistines was the giant Goliath. So powerful a fighter was he that everyone was afraid of doing battle with him. King Saul announced that he would give his daughter in marriage to anyone who slew Goliath. David challenged the giant, and killed him. So he became the son-in-law of the King of Israel. In a subsequent war both King Saul and his heir—apparent were killed in battle, and David was crowned King of Israel. Solomon was David’s son, and succeeded to his father’s throne. As for Joseph, he was endowed by God with the ability to interpret dream. The King of Egypt, impressed by his ability, entrusted the affairs of state to him. But the king still remained head of state. He and his subjects continued to adhere to their pagan religion. This hostile treatment meted out to the prophets throughout the ages, deprived people of true guidance and, what was even more