Allah’s Wisdom willed that Muhammad (pbuh) would be sent with a message to all people on earth, suitable for every time and place. Allah says: }And We have not sent you (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not.}(Saba’ :28)
What is more is that He preserved this message against any alteration, so that it may stay alive and vibrant to grant a life to people that is free from the impurities of distortions and alterations. It is for this reason that Allah made him the final seal of all messengers. And Allah Almighty also singled out Muhammad (pbuh) to be the seal of all the prophets. There is no prophet after him, because with him Allah completed His message, sealed His laws and perfected His creation.
This is the rationale behind why Allah Almighty made the book which was brought by Muhammad (pbuh) outshine the previous books and abrogate them as well, just as He made the law which the Prophet (pbuh) brought abrogate all previous laws. Allah guaranteed the preservation of Prophet Muhammad’s message and it was, therefore, related by at-tawator. The Qur’an was related vocally and in writing by at-tawator, and also through its actual application with regards to the laws of this religion, as well as its acts of worship, actions of the Prophet and his rules, all coming to us by at-tawator.
Whoever studies the collections of the biography and actions of the Prophet (pbuh) will learn that his companions (may Allah bless them) preserved information describing all the circumstances he passed through and also preserved his words and deeds for the entire human race. They narrated the words of remembrance and acts of worship he used to offer to his Lord, as well as his Istighfaar (asking for forgiveness) and jihad, his generosity and courage, and his treatment of his companions and to those who were near him. They also narrated to us his moments of joy and sadness, travels, times of residence and all about his manners of eating, drinking, clothing, and even waking up and sleeping.
If this fact is taken into consideration, one will realize that this religion has certainly been protected by Allah.
Subsequently, one realizes that he (pbuh) is in fact the seal of the prophets and messengers; and also because Allah told us so. The Almighty said: {Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam] is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allâh and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allâh is Ever All-Knower of everything.}(Al¬-Ahzâb:40)
Allah sent the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as a mercy to the world; men and women, young and old. Allah even sent the Prophet as a mercy to those who did not believe in Him. This mercy was manifested in the conduct of the Prophet (pbuh) throughout his life, most notably when he called his people and they denied him, drove him out of his home (Mecca) and tried to kill him. But Allah sufficed him and He plotted against them. Allah says: {And (remember) when the disbelievers plotted against you (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) to imprison you, or to kill you, or to get you out (from your home, i.e. Makkah); they were plotting and Allâh too was planning; and Allâh is the Best of those who plan.}(Al-Anfâl:30)
This wicked attitude of his people, however, made him all the more compassionate towards them and increased in him his desire to guide them. Allah says: {Verily, there has come to you a Messenger (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allâh, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire); for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind, and merciful.}(At-Taubah:128)
Afterwards, when he defeated them at the conquest of Mecca, he pardoned them, and when Allah sent him an angel to crush the disbelievers between two great mountains, he (pbuh) said: “I shall be patient, for I prefer to hope that Allah will bring out from their loins generations that will worship Allah Alone.” Allah says: {And We have sent you (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) not but as a mercy for the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).}(Al-Anbiyâ’:107)
He (pbuh) is a mercy to the world, to all people, and all human beings of different colors, languages, attitudes, ideas, beliefs and locations.
Not only is he (pbuh) a mercy to humans, but his mercy even goes as far as to reach animals and inanimate objects too. There once was a camel owned by one of the Ansaar, and its owner tortured it and made it suffer from severe hunger. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) felt sorry for it and showed mercy to it. He ordered the owner to show it kindness and not to keep it hungry, or overburden it with loads and labor. During another incident, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) found out that a person had taken away a dove’s baby-chick. He felt sorry for the dove and he ordered that person to return the chick to its mother. And he (pbuh) is the one who said: “When you slaughter an animal, then you must perfect your slaughter.” ( Muslim). His mercy (pbuh) also extended even to inanimate objects. There once was a tree trunk which cried when he left it to stand on the pulpit instead of standing next to it, so he showed it mercy and descended from the pulpit and embraced it until it calmed and settle down.
His mercy (pbuh) was not only manifest in situations and events. Rather, it was a command, a law, and a methodology, and it served as ethics which he prescribed for the people. Hoping to foster compassion, kindness and softness between the people, and threatening those who acted contrary to this, he (pbuh) said: “O Allah! May he who has authority over my ‘Ummah (nation) and makes matters difficult for them also have difficult matters, and he who has authority over my ‘Ummah and shows mercy to them, also be shown mercy.” (Muslim). Mercy is a great moral of the Prophet (pbuh) as well as a fundamental principle in the religion of Islam, the religion of mercy and peace.
rophet Muhammad’s mission and prophet-hood was blessed by Allah and filled with guidance and clear signs. The word guidance here encompasses a vast amount of meanings and descriptions, and since it exceeds the knowledge of mankind, it cannot be accurately defined. Among other things, he came with beneficial knowledge, good actions, lofty ethics, and a set of clear and simple acts of worship which he himself used to perform. All of this considerably surpasses all of the wisdom of the rest of the nations with regards to knowledge as well as deeds. We praise Allah for bestowing this upon mankind, praising Him in the manner He loves and is pleased with.
With regard to creed; it came at a time when polytheism prevailed and the worship of other gods, even by many of the people of the earlier distorted heavenly books. The message of the Prophet of Allah (pbuh) involved pure monotheism and the worship of Allah Alone, with no partner. He took people from the worship of false deities to the worship of the Creator of the universe. With that he purified their souls through monotheism, from the abomination of polytheism and the filth of slavery to other than Allah. That is the reason why Allah sent the Prophet (pbuh), with the same message that He had sent all the previous prophets and messengers before him. Allah says: {And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) but We revealed to him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allâh)], so worship Me (Alone and none else).”}(Al-Anbiyâ’:25)
The Almighty also said: {And your Ilâh (God) is One Ilâh (God – Allâh), Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.}( al-Baqarah:163)
With reagrds to the social side; he (pbuh) was sent to a time when oppression and enslavement of people were rife, and abhorrent class distinctions divided mankind into classes which enslaved and oppressed each other. He (pbuh) impressed equality among all people, Arabs and non-Arabs, white and black; there was no preference of a person over the other except with regards to piety and good deeds. Allah says: {Verily, the most honourable of you with Allâh is that (believer) who has At-Taqwâ [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqûn (the pious)].}(Al-Hujurât:13)
Moreover, Allah commanded that justice, charity and social solidarity must prevail, and forbade injustice, evil and aggression. Allah says: {Verily, Allâh enjoins Al-’Adl (i.e. justice and worshipping none but Allâh Alone – Islâmic Monotheism) and Al-Ihsân [i.e. to be patient in performing your duties to Allâh, totally for Allâh’s sake and in accordance with the Sunnah (legal ways) of the Prophet in a perfect manner], and giving (help) to kith and kin (i.e. all that Allâh has ordered you to give them, e.g., wealth, visiting, looking after them, or any other kind of help), and forbids Al-Fahshâ’ (i.e. all evil deeds, e.g. illegal sexual acts, disobedience of parents, polytheism, to tell lies, to give false witness, to kill a life without right), and Al-Munkar (i.e. all that is prohibited by Islâmic law: polytheism of every kind, disbelief and every kind of evil deeds), and Al-Baghy (i.e. all kinds of oppression). He admonishes you, that you may take heed.}(an-Nahl:90)
He protected all the rights of the people, even those which are moral, forbidding them to make fun of others. Allah says: {O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another group, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor let (some) women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad is it to insult one’s brother after having Faith [i.e. to call your Muslim brother (a faithful believer) as: “O sinner”, or “O wicked”]. And whosoever does not repent, then such are indeed Zâlimûn (wrong doers).}(Al-Hujurât:11)
In relation to morality, Allah sent the Prophet (pbuh) at the time that the morals of humanity were in the gutter. There was no civility, nor were there any lofty morals. The Prophet came to restore people to have good ethics and virtuous morals, in order that their lives may become fulfilled with honorable and righteous behavior. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “I have not been sent except to perfect morals.” [ Al-Bayhaqi] Moreover, Allah described the Prophet’s moral character as being great. Allah says: {And verily, you (O Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) are on an exalted (standard of) character.}(al-Qalam / Noon:4)
He (pbuh) was the best role model in his conduct and morals. He was also the best role model in his renunciation of worldly pleasures, and also in his piety, good behavior, companionship and speech. Furthermore, he (pbuh) was a paradigm and a perfect example of everything good. Allah says: {Indeed in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad [sal-Allâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam]) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much.}(Al¬-Ahzâb:21)
As for women, they suffered immensely before Islam. At the time the Prophet (pbuh) was sent to people, women had no rights and experienced the worst kind of humiliation. People disagreed about her: whether she was human or not? Whether she had the right to live or should be killed and buried when still an infant?! Allah tells us that they were the following: {58] And when the news of (the birth of) a female (child) is brought to any of them, his face becomes dark, and he is filled with inward grief! 59] He hides himself from the people because of the evil of that whereof he has been informed. Shall he keep her with dishonour or bury her in the earth? Certainly, evil is their decision.}(an-Nahl:58-59)
She was seen as a mere plaything, a doll to trade, and an object to despise.
Allah sent his Prophet (pbuh) to honor her. The Almighty says: {And among His Signs is that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.}(Ar¬-Rûm :21)
Moreover, Allah commanded that she should be respected and treatedly kindly when she is a mother. Allah says: {And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honour.}( Al-Isrâ:23)
Islam stresses that the right of a mother is to be honored and she is to be treated well, higher and better than that of a man. A man came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and said: “O Messenger of Allah, who most deserves my good company?” The Prophet replied: “Your mother.” The man asked: “Then who?” The Prophet replied: “Your mother.” The asked again: “Then who?” The Prophet replied: “Your mother.” The man asked: “Then who?” The Prophet replied: “Then your father.” [Bukhari]. Islam also commands us to regard and honor women when they are still girls. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Whoever has three daughters whom he gives refuge to, provides for and shows mercy to, Paradise is certainly guaranteed for him.” A man asked: “And (for) two, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied: “And also (for the one who has) two (daughters).” [Ahmed]. Islam also commands that women be honored as wives and linked it with goodness. The Prophet said: “The best of you is the best to his wives and I am the best amongst you to my wives.”
