The Prophet of Islam

The Prophet of Islam

1987 10 October 10 The Prophet of Islam (371) It is written in the Quran: “Mohammad is no more than a Prophet: other prophets have passed away before him” (3:44).

This verse shows that the Prophet of Islam, may peace be upon him and God’s blessings, was a prophet like all other prophets. All the prophets brought the same religion to mankind. But there was one all-important respect in which Mohammad, (may peace be upon him) was different from his predecessors: he was the last of the prophets–the final link in the chain. “Mohammad is the father of no man among you, but he is the Prophet of God and the last of the messengers.” (Quran, 33:40). Or as he put in himself: “I, and the prophets who went before me, can be likened to a palace which has been very beautifully constructed except for one brick which has yet to be put into place. I am that brick, I am the last of the prophets.”

It is important to understand that his being the Final Prophet did set him apart from the others in one essential respect: after him, there would be no one with the status of prophethood to preserve the scriptures and bring the Word of God to mankind. It was imperative, therefore, that there should be a permanent and reliable framework for the preservation of the Book (the Quran) revealed to Mohammad (may peace be upon him) and the continuance by others of his missionary endeavours. The only way of ensuring this was to have political supremacy over his opponents, This was the special reason for which God granted Mohammad (may peace be upon him) and his followers victory over Arabia and the neighbouring countries, thus establishing a government powerful enough to ensure that the final Book of God would be preserved throughout the succeeding centuries, If this had not been so, the enemies of Islam would surely have destroyed the Quran, or changed it so radically that it would have ceased to be the reliable Book of guidance that it was primarily intended to be, As it was, the aims of the Final Prophet were fully achieved and Islam came to occupy a dominant and commanding position throughout a major portion of the world,