THE EMERGENCE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD

This world is for the trial of man. Here, people have the chance to act as they please. That is why God does not hold anyone in check in this world. But once, at least, by means of the Prophet of Islam, God has shown on earth the situation that will prevail in full and permanent form in the next world. The Companions of the Prophet, whose homes were demolished, for whom the earth had become a place of unmitigated oppression, who were robbed of their properties, who were so victimized and terrorized that they lived in constant fear of extermination—these very people were raised to a position of great honour. The Quraish, the Romans and the Iranians, the Yemenis and the Ghassanis—those who took pride in their wealth and power—were meanwhile reduced to ignominy and disgrace. Every prophet who comes from God provides a criterion of divine justice. Through him God announces to man the decisions that He Himself will announce in the next world. But the Prophet of Islam gave such a display of divine justice that it became incorporated in human history. What the world experienced from him became a historical reality, like many other human experiences. Man has seen with his own eyes how God honours His faithful servants and degrades those who rebel against Him. Heaven and Hell are realities that will be made manifest in the next world. But man has been given a preliminary glimpse of them in this world so that he may take heed. What really emerged with the prophethood of Muhammad was the divinity of God. That is why the New Testament foretells of his prophethood as the “Kingdom of God”. There is no doubting the fact that 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. The revolution brought about by the Prophet Muhammad showed man in advance the realities that will come upon him in stark and absolute form in the Hereafter. o The revolution brought about by the Prophet Muhammad showed man in advance the realities that will come upon him in stark and absolute form in the Hereafter.