The Universality of the Message of the Prophet Muhammad

01/04/2010| IslamWeb

The basis of all the foundations of Islam is to believe in what was revealed to Muhammad, , and to acknowledge that he is the Messenger whom Allah The Almighty sent to all creatures: humans and Jinn, Arabs and non-Arabs, Christians, Jews and fire worshippers as well as the leaders and the ordinary people. This must be joined with the belief that there is no way to Allah The Almighty other than following Muhammad, , internally and externally. Every Muslim must believe that even if the Prophet, , had been sent while Moosa (Moses) and Jesus, may Allah exalt their mention, were alive, they would have had to follow him. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [recall, O People of the Scripture], when Allah took the covenant of the prophets, [saying], “Whatever I give you of the Scripture and wisdom and then there comes to you a messenger confirming what is with you, you [must] believe in him and support him.” [Allah] Said, “Have you acknowledged and taken upon that My commitment?” They said, “We have acknowledged it.” He said, “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.” And whoever turned away after that - they were the defiantly disobedient.}[Quran 3: 81-82]

 

Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Allah The Almighty never sent a prophet without taking his covenant that he must believe in Muhammad and support him if he was sent during his lifetime. Allah The Exalted also commanded all the prophets to take the covenant of their nations that they must believe in Muhammad and ‎support him if Allah The Almighty sent him while they were alive.”

 

Hence, the Prophet, , said: “If Moosa had been alive, it would have been prohibited for him to do anything but follow me.” [Ahmad]

 

Whoever disputes the universality of the message of the Prophet, , would be one of two types:

1-   A person who believes that Muhammad, , was sent by Allah The Almighty, but claims that he, , was only sent to the Arabs.

2-   A person who absolutely denies the message of the Prophet, .

 

It is upon the first type to believe the Prophet, , in everything that he conveyed from Allah The Almighty, including the universality of his message which abrogated all the pervious messages. The Prophet, , stated that he was the Messenger of Allah The Almighty to all people. In addition, he, , sent messages and letters to kings all over the world, such as Caesar, Khosrau, An-Najaashi and other kings calling them to Islam. Then, he, , fought the polytheists and the People of the Book who rejected Islam. He, , also imposed the Jizyah (non Muslim poll-tax) upon the People of the Book. Hence, a person who believes in a prophet, without believing in all with which he was sent, is suffering from inconsistency and arrogance.

 

As for the second type, who absolutely denies the message of our ‎Prophet, , we say that there ‎is indisputable evidence proving the truthfulness of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‎‎‘alayhi wa sallam. In addition, the miracles of the Quran continue to challenge humans and Jinn. Hence, such a person ‎must either bring some evidence that refutes the existing miracle or acknowledge it. If he acknowledges the message of the Prophet, , then he must believe in all that the Messenger of Allah, , said. However, if he continues to be arrogant and obstinate to produce a discourse similar to the Quran, he would inevitably expose himself and his inability because many people of eloquence and fluency have failed to do so, and there is no doubt that others would fail even more because the Quran is a lasting and endless miracle.

 

Accordingly, all creatures are required to adhere to the teachings of the Noble Quran and apply them.

 

The Quran states clearly that Muhammad, , is the last Prophet and the Messenger, whom Allah The Almighty has sent to all people. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {Say, [O Muhammad], “O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.} [Quran 7:158]
• {Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner.}[Quran 25:1]

 

In addition, Allah The Almighty commanded His Prophet, , to convey the message and to warn all people Saying (what means): {And this Quran was revealed to me that I may warn you thereby and whomever it reaches}[Quran 6:19]

 

This verse explicitly states that the message of the Prophet, , is universal as it addresses whoever it reaches. Allah The Almighty stated that the message of the Prophet, , includes the People of the Book when He Says (what means):

• {And say to those who were given the Scripture and [to] the unlearned, “Have you submitted yourselves?” And if they submit [in Islam], they are rightly guided; but if they turn away - then upon you is only the [duty of] notification. And Allah is Seeing of [His] servants.}[Quran 3:20]
• {Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets.}[Quran 33:40]
• {And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.}[Quran 21:107]
• {And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know.}[Quran 34:28]

 

Furthermore, the Prophet, , informed all people that he is the last Prophet and that his message is universal:

-      The Prophet, , said that he was given five things which were not given to any other prophet including, “…Every prophet would be sent to his nation exclusively, but I have been sent to allmankind.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

-      He also said: “My position in relation to the other prophets before me is like a man who built a house beautifully, except for the place of one brick in the corner. The people go about it and wonder at its beauty, but say, ‘Oh for the place of this one brick [the house would be more beautiful]!’ I am that one missing brick, and I am the last of the prophets.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

 

The universality of the message of the Prophet, , includes both humans and Jinn at all times and in all places, from the beginning of his mission as a prophet until the Day of Judgment. This clearly proves that prophethood has ended by the cessation of the divine revelation after the death of the Messenger, . This also proves that the only source of legislation and worship is the Book of Allah The Almighty (Quran) and the Sunnah of the Prophet, . This necessitates believing in the universality of his message and following his teachings. The Prophet, , said: “I swear by Him in whose Hand is the life ofMuhammad! if any Jew or Christian hears about me, and dies without believing in that which I was sent with, he shall be one of the inhabitants of Hell.” [Muslim]

 

With the help of Allah The Exalted, indisputable awareness has been established and the universality of the message of the Prophet, , and its inclusion of both humans and Jinn at all times and in all places has been proven. Allah The Almighty Says (what means):

• {There has come to you enlightenment from your Lord. So whoever will see does so for [the benefit of] his soul, and whoever is blind [does harm] against it. And [say], “I am not a guardian over you.”} [Quran 6:104]
• {And say: “The truth is from your Lord.” Then whosoever wills, let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve.}[Quran 18:3]