DR. MUHAMMAD MUMTAZ ALI addresses some fundamental questions that each and every person needs to think on and reach a conclusion, and gives solid arguments to prove the ultimate reality.
No individual, no scholar, no thinker, no philosopher, no leader of this world in any period of history was introduced by anybody as the MERCY TO MANKIND except the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) whose birthday was celebrated on 24 December 2015 all over the world by Muslims. The Question here is if he is MERCY TO MANKIND then why did the Muslims alone celebrate his birthday? Who introduced him as the MERCY TO MANKIND? Where and in which book was he introduced as MERCY TO MANKIND? Allah introduced the Prophet Muhammad in the Qur’ān as MERCY TO MANKIND. “We have sent you forth as nothing but mercy to the people of the whole world” [21: 107].
Then one can ask another question. Who is Allah the Exalted? A religious God or God of Muslims or more than that. What is the Qur’ān? A sacred religious book of Muslims or more than that. What is the status of the Qur’ān? What is the importance of these questions? Are all these questions basic and very important for all of us especially for those who want to understand in what sense the Prophet Muhammad is MERCY TO MANKIND and why he is then confined to the Muslims alone whereas he is MERCY TO MANKIND? Can we ignore these questions? If we ignore these questions what would happen to us and society?
In fact, we have ignored these questions because we think that these are the questions which are religious in nature? Today we do not live in the world of religion. Modernity convinced us to live a secular life. Hence, these questions are not considered important for us. We are told that we live in the modern world which is free from religious dogmatic view of life. We have adopted consciously the secular view of life. Therefore, in this modern, scientific, secular and materialistic world these questions have no meaning and no relevance for us. Consequently, many of us do not know why this Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) is MERCY TO MANKIND? What is our relationship with Prophet Muhammad?
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) is generally taken as the Prophet of Islam and Muslims. Islam is considered a religion and the Muslims a religious community. By some scholars the Prophet Muhammad is perceived as the founder of a new religion of Islam which emerged during the seventh century Christian era after Christianity. All this attitude and perception demonstrate that a majority of us are living either without knowledge or with distorted knowledge. Although we claim that we know much. We have plenty of knowledge with us. This is the age of enlightenment, science and technology. I would like here to draw the attention of all of us and raise a fundamental question for the purpose of clarity as well as to know the truth and reality of these questions.
Are the above-mentioned questions in reality religious? When I read the Qur’ān I find that these are not the religious questions. Hence, I do not see any genuine reason to consider these questions religious. The Qur’ān as a matter of fact presents a powerful ethical [rational] discourse along with historical and empirical evidences and challenges mankind that these are not the religious questions. A dispassionate study of the Qur’ān reveals the truth that these are the basic and fundamental questions of life because they shed light on the Truth and Reality of Life and the World and make it clear that these questions are the questions which are directly related to each one of us.
We human beings enjoy universally the sunlight, the water, the air, green grass, flowers, fruits and hundreds of things of this world, individually as well as collectively. We all possess a physical body in which the same digestive system works. We share thousands and thousands of things which are common to us. We consider them universal to all people of the world. In the same way the Qur’ān claims that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) is the Prophet for all of us. He is neither the founder of a new religion nor the Prophet of the Muslims alone. Whether we accept him as the Prophet or not but he remains as the Prophet of every one of us. If we realise it is good for us and if Humanity desires to follow the Truth and live in line with Reality then we must benefit from him.
Islam is taken as a new religion. We need to know more about Islam. Is it really a new religion after Christianity? Is it merely a religion? Did Islam come during seventh century? Is the Prophet Muhammad the Prophet of religion of Islam? If so why then he is introduced as MERCY TO MANKIND? In what sense he is MERCY TO MANKIND? All these are the questions which require our serious attention. We human beings cannot ignore them. If we ignore them then we would be in loss. Is this understanding of loss the result of a belief or rather the consequent of Knowledge and thoughtful reflection? The study of the Qur’ān reveals to us that the rejection of him as the Prophet is not only the rejection of Truth and Reality but also tantamount to self-loss. There are, time to time, some unpleasant events that engrossed the concentration of the people of the world when some ignorant people printed some cartoons of this man of MERCY TO MANKIND and some other emotional people wanted to kill those people who made cartoons of the man of MERCY TO MANKIND.
It seems to me that a majority of us do not have true, authentic and realistic understanding of the above-mentioned questions based on True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge. A majority of us even do not know that there exists a kind of knowledge which is designated as True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge. Even people in general do not understand what is that True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge. Is there any kind of knowledge that can be considered True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge? If it exists then how can we acquire that knowledge? We are unrealistically and un-authentically told that the most reliable and true knowledge is ‘scientific’ knowledge. We accept this claim blindly. In truth and reality we do not know what is ‘science’ and ‘scientific’ knowledge? Whatever is explained to us in our classrooms in the name of ‘science’ and ‘scientific’ knowledge we accept it. We hardly become critical to it. We generally do not question it. But in many cases we accept whatever is told or explained to us. A majority of us thus live with false understanding and false perception. For example, we do not know that there exists True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge. We do not know based on this True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge that the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) is not the Prophet of Muslims alone.
It is said in the Qur’ān, beyond any doubt, about this great man of MERCY TO MANKIND that he is the Prophet for all people of the world. If anybody claims that he is the Prophet of Muslims, obviously, he is not true. It goes against the True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge. The Prophet Muhammad is asked to say to the people that he is the Prophet for all people [7: 158; 10: 47]. It is said in the Qur’ān that he is the best model for all of us. He is a universal Prophet. To understand all these issues we need to study the Qur’ān. The Qur’ān explains, beyond any doubt, that the Prophet Muhammad is not a religious figure. He is a universal Prophet for all mankind. Allah says in the Qur’ān: …O Muhammad, We have sent you to mankind as a Prophet [4:79]. Most blessed is Allah Who sent down the Qur’ān as the Criterion to the Prophet Muhammad so that he may warn to all mankind [25: 1].
This universal nature of his Prophethood is not claimed by any individual, scholar, thinker, philosopher, or leader of this world. This is claimed in the Qur’ān by Allah Who introduces HIMSELF as the Absolute Truth and Reality, the Creator of this universe. Look at this perfect and unique introduction of Himself:
Allah, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting by Whom all subsist, there is no God but He. Neither slumber seizes Him, nor sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. Who is there who might intercede with Him save with His leave. He knows what lies before men and what is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to anything of His knowledge save what he wills them to attain. His Dominion overspreads the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not; He is All-High, All-Glorious.[2: 255]
No individual, no scholar, no thinker, no philosopher, no leader of this world dares to introduce himself as Allah introduces Himself. But unfortunately, due to lack of True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge we reduce Him to the level of a religious God. He is not a religious God. He is the Creator of this whole universe. He is the giver of life and death. This is the Truth and Reality of this universe. He makes unique claims in the Qur’ān that He is not only the Creator of the dominions of the heavens and the earth, He alone possesses Unlimited-Wisdom, Un-limited Knowledge and Unlimited-Power. Nobody can question His Power but everybody is subject to His Power. It is He Who grants life and takes life back [7: 158].
As the Creator of mankind, Allah appointed the Prophets as Messengers out of His MERCY for the guidance of mankind so that humanity can know the Truth and Reality of Life and the World and regulate life and society on the right path of culture, civilization, development, peace, security, prosperity and happiness. All the Prophets throughout human history performed this noble task of guiding people. They were gifted by Allah with a special kind of Knowledge – True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge [generally known as the revelation or revealed knowledge] which is now available with us and can genuinely be tested, if anybody has any doubt about its authenticity, on the basis of any kind of criteria of examination and analysis. It will be proved that it is True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) is presented before mankind as the last but universal Prophet of Allah.
This arrangement of sending the Prophets for the guidance of people of all times was made by Allah. Allah makes one of the most fundamental claims in the Qur’ān – the source of True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge – that Allah knows very well, being the Creator of man, that man as an individual and even collectively is not yet all capable to live a meaningful life and bring cultural and civilizational development. In other words, the knowledge, perception or understanding of the metaphysical aspect of life and the world are not under the jurisdiction of human capacity. Man absolutely depends on the Prophets for the knowledge of the metaphysical world. The true, healthy cultural and civilizational development, peace, security, prosperity and happiness on earth are not possible without seeking the True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge and guidance from the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him). Man needs Guidance and True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge for his development and success in life [7:52].
The claims of modern man that he is capable to understand himself and everything around him is bitterly criticised and condemned by this concept of Prophethood. But unfortunately, man in modern age under the influence of ignorance and arrogance rejected the Prophet, Guidance and True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge without making an objective study of the Qur’ān. In this way man of modern age demonstrates in life and society the attitude of lack of knowledge and arrogance. As a matter of fact, instead of creating peace and security he is causing crisis and chaos in life and society. He produces more and more weapons of mass destruction and destroys climate and environment. The current situation of war, weapons, crimes, corruption, terrorism, conflicts, and crisis are empirical evidences. This phenomenon of our time illustrates that mankind is in need to seek the Guidance and True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge brought by the Prophet Muhammad.
It is indeed a manifestation of an act of lack of knowledge and superciliousness on the part of those who confine the Prophet Muhammad, his Guidance and True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge to some people and neglect practically Guidance and True, Authentic and Universal Knowledge brought about by him for the benefit of people of the world. Today the modern world needs to study impartially the biography of the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’ān. No safe and secure future of mankind is possible if the study of the biography of the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’ān is not conducted dispassionately. We need to know him very well. Allah says in the Qur’ān, “O People of the world! Now the Prophet [Muhammad] has come to you bearing the Truth from your Lord, accept [believe in] him; it will be good for you. If you reject, know well that to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise [4: 170]”.
[Say, O Muhammad]: O people! I am Allah’s Prophet to you all – of Him to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no God but He. He grants life and deals death. Have trust, then, in Allah and in His Prophet, the ummi [unlettered] Prophet who has trust in Allah and His words; and follow him so that you may be guided aright [7: 158]. [O Prophet], We have not sent you forth but as a herald of good news and a warner for all mankind. But most people do not know [34: 28].
The modern man needs to understand that Allah is not a religious God. He is not a myth or dogma. He is the Truth and Reality of this universe. He is not dead God. He is as alive as anything of this world. He Himself claims in the Qur’ān that Allah is Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, Who sustains the entire order of the Universe [3: 2]. The East and the West belong to Allah… Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing [2: 115]. Allah is the Originator of the heavens and earth; whenever He decrees a matter He merely says, ‘Be’, and it is [2: 117]. Nothing in the earth and in the heavens is hidden from Allah [3: 5] It is He Who fashions us [you] in the wombs as He wills [3: 6]. Allah creates whatever He wills. When He decides something, He merely says: ‘Be’, and it is [3:47]. Allah’s Knowledge and Power is Un-Limited. It is He Who created for us [you] all that is on earth and then turned above and fashioned it into seven heavens. He knows all things [2: 29]. He asks us: are you [they] unaware that Allah knows all that we [they] hide and all that we [they] disclose? [2: 77] Again He asks us…‘Do you have greater knowledge, or Allah?’…Allah is not heedless of the things we [you] do [2: 140]. …Allah knows the mischievous from the righteous, and had Allah willed, He would indeed have imposed on us [you] exacting conditions, but He is All-Powerful as well as All-Wise [2: 20]
He further asks us…Do not take the signs of Allah in jest and remember Allah’s favour upon us [you]. He admonishes us [you] to revere the Book and the Wisdom that He has sent down upon us [you]. Due to this Truth and Reality He asks us: Fear Allah, and know well that Allah has full-knowledge of everything [2: 231]…Allah is well aware of what we [you] do [2: 234]…Allah indeed has the power to bestow dominion upon whomsoever He wills. Allah is Munificent, All-Knowing [2: 247]. Hence, He expects that we would…Beware of the wrath of Allah. He teaches us [you] the right way and has full knowledge of everything [2: 282]…Allah knows what is in the heavens and in the earth and He has power over everything [3: 29]…To Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is well aware of what we [you] do [3: 180]. This All-Living, All-Knowing, All-Wise and All-Powerful Allah grants us everything. He is Most-Merciful, Most-Glorious. If we are unaware of Him it is our problem. Indeed we are in loss [104: 1-4].
The modern man needs to understand that the Qur’ān is not a religious book. It is not the book of Muslims. Allah makes it clear that it is from Him for the sake of the guidance of people of the world which contains in it Knowledge [True, Authentic and Universal]. It is indeed a mercy and guidance to mankind [7: 52]. Allah says in the Qur’ān: …We sent down to you [O Prophet Muhammad] clear injections and instructions that elucidate the Truth, and which only the transgressors deny [2: 99]. During the month of Ramadhan the Qur’ān was sent down by Allah as guidance to people with clear signs of the true guidance, and as the Criterion between right and wrong [2: 185]. Allah has revealed the Qur’ān setting forth the Truth…for the guidance of mankind in which He has set the Criterion to distinguish Truth from falsehood [3: 3-4].
O Prophet Muhammad!, Allah says, We have revealed to you the Qur’ān with the Truth [4: 105]. There has now come to you [O People] a light from Allah, and a clear Book – the Qur’ān – through which Allah shows to all who seek to please Him the paths leading to safety…Through this Qur’ān Allah wants to bring people out from darkness to light and directs them onto the Straight Way [5: 15-16]. O People of the world!, Allah says: A proof [the Qur’ān] has come to you from Allah Who is the Lord of everyone and Allah has sent down through the Qur’ān a clear sign and light…that guide people onto a Straight Way…[4: 174-75]. Surely clear evidence in the form of the Qur’ān has come to people from Allah [the Lord of the universe], which is both a guidance and a mercy … [6:157]. The Qur’ān is that book which has been revealed by Allah, to Whom belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, to the Prophet Muhammad so that he can bring forth mankind from every kind of darkness into the light, and direct them to the path of peace, prosperity and happiness [14: 1-2]. Allah has sent down the Qur’ān that the Prophet may explain to people the Truth and Reality. The Qur’ān serves as a guidance and mercy [16: 64]. The Qur’ān is the proclamation for all mankind so that they may be warned by it and that they may know that Allah alone is the Lord of the universe [14: 52]
We need further to understand that Islam is not a mere religion in the modern limited sense of the word ‘religion’. It is the worldview, the way of life and code of conduct. Allah prescribed Islam as the system of life for mankind. It is based on knowledge of Allah Himself. Islam is that way of life which is in accordance with reality and nature of man [3: 19]. All the Prophets were sent down to guide to people to the right way of life [path of Islam][3: 83-85]. Allay says: whose way of life could be better than that of he who submits his whole being to Allah, does good, and follows exclusively the way of life [Islam] approved by Allah [4: 125]. The way of life [Islam] prescribed by Allah is the only way of life which is true. We have been commanded, therefore, by Allah to submit ourselves to the Lord of the entire universe [6: 71]. Allah says He has perfected for us Islam as the way of life and has bestowed upon us through the Prophet Muhammad His bounty in full measure, and has been pleased to assign for us Islam as the way of life [5: 3].
Islam is not a name of a religion and the term Muslim does not denote those who follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) but rather all the Prophets brought the same way of life called Islam and their followers were also called Muslims [28: 53]. From the very beginning, every Prophet brought and preached the same way of life – Islam – and that all Prophets had always been Muslims and had always urged their followers to be Muslims. All those who had accepted and followed the Prophets were called Muslims. [3:85; 10: 72]; 2: 131-3].
It is said in the Qur’ān clearly that the Prophet Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian; he was a Muslim, wholly devoted to Allah…[3: 67]. [O Muhammad]. We have revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the Prophets after him, and We revealed to Ibrahim, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob and the offspring of Jacob, and Jesus and Job, and Jonah, and Aaron and Solomon, and We gave to David Psalms [4: 164]. We revealed to the Messengers We have already told you of, and to the Messengers We have not told you of; and to Moses Allah spoke directly [4: 165]. These Messengers were sent as bearers of glad tidings and as warners so that after sending the Messengers people may have no plea against Allah [4: 166].
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