THE PROPHET AND HIS MISSION — From The Quran

was not given the power to acquire knowledge of the unseen on his own. This is demonstrated by the following verses from the Quran: Had I possessed knowledge of what is hidden, I would have availed myself of much that is good. (THE QURAN 7: 188) I do not say to you that I possess God's treasures and I do not know what is hidden. (THE QURAN 11: 31) Tell them, ‘God alone has knowledge of the unseen. So wait; I too will wait with you.’ (THE QURAN 10: 20) "These are announcements of the unseen which We reveal to you; neither you nor your people knew them." (THE QURAN 11: 49) These and other verses of this nature prove clearly that the Prophet of Islam had not been given knowledge of the unseen. God gave the Prophet only those things that were essential to the discharging of his responsibilities as a prophet. As this task did not relate to the metaphysical, he required no knowledge of the unseen. It was not the Prophet's duty to perform miraculous feats for the sake of establishing his superiority. Rather, his duty was to guide people by means of dawah and counselling. This was the real task of the Prophet, and for this there was no need to possess any supernatural powers. That is why no prophet was endowed with such a faculty. Ease in Difficulty In chapter 94 of the Quran the Prophet is addressed thus: Have We not lifted up and expanded your heart and relieved you of the burden which weighed down your back? Have We not given you high renown? So, surely with every hardship there is ease; surely, with every hardship there is ease. When you have finished, resume your toil, and seek your Lord with all fervour. (THE QURAN 94: 1-8) One particular aspect of the life of the Prophet of Islam emerges before us in these verses. That is, the ability to see ease in difficulty which was bestowed on him by God's grace and guidance. He was able, by dint of