Truth, Not Hypothesis

Truth, Not Hypothesis

1990 4 April 6-7 Truth, Not Hypothesis (495) Prior to the Prophet of Islam, there had been no practical, historical backing for religious teaching. But, through him and his companions, for the first time in history, the high teachings of religion were not allowed to remain mere abstractions. A complete, true history came into existence which left no stone unturned. The truth is that each and every word that is used to express the greatness of the Prophet denotes an established faith, and does not stem from a subjective, unsubstantiated faith resting on mere hypothesis.

In the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be upon him, has been called the last of the Prophets (Armies, 40). This does not simply mean that he was the final link in the long chain of Prophethood. It means that God’s purpose in sending His messengers was completely fulfilled when He sent the Prophet Muhammed, may peace be upon him. There was, therefore, no further need to send another Prophet after him.

This final fulfilment of God’s purpose through the Prophet of Islam is not just a matter of personal belief. It is a known historical fact. That is why the historian, Thomas Carlyle, called him as the greatest of all Prophets, American Professor Michael Hart has called him the greatest man of history.

All of the Prophets, without exception, brought the message of monotheism. Before the advent of Islam, the message of monotheism had remained in the da’wah stage. It was all part of the spiritual struggle, but had not reached the stage of revolution. The Prophet of Islam, aided by his companions in spreading the message, finally made revolution a reality.

Before the coming of the Prophet of Islam, God’s religion had been distorted and diluted. From the time of Noah to that of the Messiah, there was no religion that had been spared the manipulations of human beings. With the coming of the Prophet, however, God’s religion was cleansed – for the first time in human history – of all such adulteration, and steps were taken to preserve religion in its true form for all time to come.

Before the Prophet of Islam, religion remained a matter of controversy. At that juncture in history, there was still not that accumulation of facts in its favour which could have given it an unassailable position. This was the great feat performed by the Prophet: he successfully led religion out of the age of controversy and into the age of established Prophethood.

Prior to the Prophet of Islam, there had been no practical historical backing for religious teaching. But, through him and his companions, for the first time in history, the high teachings of religion were not allowed to remain mere abstractions. A complete, true history came into existence which left no stone unturned. The truth is that each and every word that is used to express the greatness of the Prophet denotes an established faith, and does not stem from a subjective, unsubstantiated faith resting on mere hypothesis.