Allah introduced Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, to mankind as a Messenger from themselves in the following verses of the Qur’an.
“There certainly a Messenger has come to you from among yourselves.” (9:128)
“Surely Allah conferred a great favour on believers when He raised from among themselves a Messenger.” (3:164)
“He is Who has sent to the unlettered people from among themselves.” (62:2)
“As We have sent a Messenger from among yourselves…”(2:151)
The address of the Qur’an in these verses is to all human beings in general and to the Arabs and people from Makkah in particular. He lived in this world as a fellow human with his persona in the full light of history. To the Arabs and the inhabitants of the city of Makkah, he was among themselves by lineage and relationship and by marriage and descent. The Prophet belonged to that society. Almost all prominent tribes were related to him and his ancestry, either through blood or marriage. His family and its heritage were prominent and among the noblest. He was no stranger, rather they knew him as a truthful person of high character. So, when he announced that Allah appointed him as a Messenger, there was no justification for them to refute and deny him.
Allah delegated Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, as his emissary to teach human beings the purity of obedience as the humans could not have learnt on their own how to serve the Lord. This teaching of pure obedience to Allah had to be done both in theory and practice. That is why such teachers, as the representatives of the Lord, had to be from the genus and breed of humans. Obviously, a representative from any other species other than mankind could not be a teacher-proper and role-model for humans.
Thus, obeying the Prophet amounts to obeying Allah. The Prophet obeyed Allah and taught this obedience and so following him means following the commands of the Lord. The Qur’an says, “Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah.” (4:80)
In other words, Allah sent His Prophet as a Mercy to human beings. The Qur’an says, “We did not send you (O Prophet) except as mercy for entire world.” (21:107). Mercy for the entire world encompasses mercy towards all creations and in all worlds, here and the hereafter.
The Qur’an calls the true followers of the Prophet as people of the right hand. They have been assured ultimate success as peace, “peace to you from the people on the right hand.” (56:91). This announcement of peace is an honour on account of the followers of the Prophet being in the correct position and the right side of obedience to Allah. This is the outcome of the honour at which Allah has placed Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace.
Allah, in several verses of the Qur’ān, called Prophet Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, as light.
“There certainly has come to you from Allah a light and a clear book.” (5:15)
“As one who calls people to Allah, by His permission, and as a bright, shining lamp.” (33:46)
Some scholars have opined that the reference to light in Sura Noor (verse 24:35) is about the Prophet.
Allah protected this light and lifted all burden from his back and raised his name, arranging that his name is also called along with Him.
“(We) relieved you of the burden, which weighted heavily on your back.” (94:2-3)
“And raised high your fame.” (94:4)
Allah assigned the most-high and exclusive task of conveying His message to all human beings and that is why He placed Muhammad, the Messenger, may Allah bless and grant him peace, in the highest position any human being can be raised. That is why He arranged that the name of the Prophet is also called along with Allah. In one tradition, the Prophet said that Gabriel, the angel once informed him that the Lord of both the Messenger and the angel, said that He has honoured the Prophet by arranging that when the name of the Lord is mentioned, the name of His Messenger is also mentioned [Reported by Abu Saeed Khudri, may Allah bestow his kindness on him, and Recorded by Ibn Habban &Musnad Abu Ya’la]
The above tradition of the Prophet refers to the fact that Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, is mentioned as the Prophet of Allah and that the primary statement that a person makes to become Muslim is, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the servant and Prophet of Allah.” The same practice of stating witness to Allah, as the greatest and Muhammad, as Messenger of Allah is followed while calling Adhan (to prayer).
Further, the name of Allah along with His Messenger is mentioned in a number of times in the Holy Qur’an, making submissions and allegiance to the Prophet the necessary ingredient of obedience to Allah. The following verses of the Qur’an are self-explanatory in this regard.
“Obey Allah and obey His Messenger.”(3:32)
“Believe in Allah and His Messenger.” (4:136)
The Qur’an joins these two articles of faith and consequent obedience with the conjuncture wa (and), thumma (then) or with a pause i.e. comma. In all such cases faith in and obedience to Allah precedes and at no place they would conjoin as together. The will of Allah will be described first and then that of the Prophet. One may say Allah wills and the Prophet wills. That is a culture the Prophet has taught and that has been described by scholars of the religion. A person was speaking in the presence of the Prophet and he said, “Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger is guided and whoever rebels against both of them is not guided.” The Prophet did not like this expression and told that person that he was a bad speaker. [Recorded by Abu Dawood, Muslim and Tirmidhi]
Scholars opine that the reason behind the displeasure of this speech by the Prophet was the use of the dual form ‘both’ that implies equality. Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, is the embodiment of obedience to and Messenger of Allah.
The Qur’an states that the path of seeking love and obedience of Allah is to love and follow the Prophet.
“O Prophet, tell (people), if you indeed love Allah follow me. (3:31)
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah.” (4:80)
Accepting Muhammad, may Allah bless and grant him peace, is the path of the righteous.
“And the one who has brought the truth and those who embrace it – it is those who are righteous.” (39:33)
Obviously, the reason for such assertions by the Qur’an is that the Prophet brought the truth.