“Are you asking them for something? What Allah has given you is the best. He is the best of Providers. You are calling them to Straight Way, but those who do not believe in the Hereafter are ever prone to deviate from the Right Way.”
(Al-Qur’ān – 23:72-74)
This is an important argument in support of the Prophet’s claim to have been designated by God as a Prophet. The argument demonstrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) was quite evidently most selfless in his mission. No one could honestly accuse him of facing all the hassle involved in his work in order to fulfil any selfish design. Before embarking on his mission as the Message-bearer of Islam, he was a fairly prosperous trader. After becoming involved in Islam, he began to face want and privation. Before he was designated as God’s Messenger, he was held in high esteem by his people. Therefore, however, he was subjected to both verbal abuse and even physical hurt; and even his life was at risk. In the past, he had lived a happy life with his family, but thanks to his mission, he became engaged in a struggle which left him little time for rest and peace. It antagonised virtually every element of his people so much so that his own kith and kin seemed bent on the utmost hostility towards him. In view of all this, who in his right mind would say that the work of the Holy Prophet was that of a self-seeker?