THE EMERGENCE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD

not take kindly to the emergence of a new power at their doorstep. In their attempt to arrest the rise of Islam, they waged war against the Muslims. In so doing, they forced the Muslims to fight back. This gave the Muslims the chance to conquer the empires of Rome and Persia, whose borders, at that time, extended to the farthest reaches of the known world. There is no doubting the fact that the conquests of Islam were not wars of aggression against others; rather they were a response to aggression from others. They were wars of self-defence and never, in any country of the world, has there been two minds on the justification of such war. Over and above the political significance of these events was the fact that the Islamic revolution opened out hitherto unexplored opportunities for man. It made God’s revealed religion a historical reality, something that it had not been before. It ushered in the age of the press, ensuring the preservation of the Quran for all time. It brought the age of democracy and freedom of speech to the world, removing all artificial barriers that had obstructed preachers in their call to truth. It made new discoveries possible in the world of science, enabling religious truths to be proved and explained on a rational, intellectual level. An even more important aspect of this revolution was that, through the Prophet, God showed the world what would happen in the Hereafter. His life and mission provided man with a preview of the events of the next world. Those who followed the truth the Prophet brought were made supreme, and that is how they will remain forever in the Hereafter. The wicked, meanwhile, were made to taste the humiliation that they would forever be a prey to in the world to come. History shows that those who devote their lives to God always appear in a passive and depressed condition, while those devoted to wealth and power always seem to have their way in the world. Such is the sombre evidence of the history of saints and prophets. This state of affairs is quite contrary to reality, for, eventually, God will bestow everlasting honour and glory upon His true servants, while self-worshippers and worshippers of the world will forever be assigned to a pit of humiliation and disgrace. The revolution of the Prophet had great political and strategic implications. But its main importance lies in the spread of God’s glory, and revelation of divine justice.