Islam Stands the Test of History

The American writer, Michael Heart, in his book, “The 100,” has made a selection of the 100 most influential persons in history, who have achieved the most outstanding success in this world. Right at the top of this list is the Prophet Muhammad  of whom the author writes: He was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels. The great success that the Prophet Muhammad  had predicted for his mission at the very outset exactly came true. This too, in spite of the stiff opposition which Prophet Muhammad  faced right from the beginning, both from within his own family and from the outside world. This was in 610 AD, the year when he first started receiving divine revelations. At this stage he felt totally helpless. But then, in this adverse situation, he received a revelation from God, which said: They want to extinguish God’s light with their mouths. But God will perfect His light, even though the unbelievers may detest it. It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth, so that He may exalt it over all religions, much as the pagans may dislike it. (61:8-9) At the very beginning of his prophetic career, the Quran declared that Prophet Muhammad  would certainly succeed in his mission. All his opponents, however powerful they might be, would ultimately be defeated. (This is pointed out at several places in the Quran in different wording). In history we find numerous personalities who began their work with towering claims, but none of them achieved the envisioned success. Throughout human history, the Prophet Muhammad  is the only exception to this rule, in that his predictions were fulfilled to the fullest extent.