The extraordinary events took place on the night of his birth. For example, most of the idols at the Ka‘ba toppled over; the palace of the Sassanid Emperor shook and cracked, and its fourteen pinnacles collapsed; the small lake of Sawa in Persia sank into the earth, and the fire which was worshipped by the Magians at Istakhrabad and had been lit continually for a thousand years was extinguished. Together with these events, the different character he displayed even in his childhood and the meaningful signs men of insight observed on him meant that he would undertake a great mission in future.
THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD’S LIFE FOLLOWING HIS PROPHETHOOD
If the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, had cherished selfish aims and intentions, and if he had not been a Prophet chosen by God to guide people into truth, he would not have had to wait until he was forty to emerge with the claim of Prophethood.
MUHAMMAD’S CHARACTER AND HIGH MORALITY PROVE HIS PROPHETHOOD
Muhammad was the humblest at the zenith of his achievements
If a man’s world-admired accomplishments or the wealth and fame he has gained do not change him, if he can remain as humble as he was at the beginning of his career, this shows that person’s strength of character, morality and virtue. Despite his unparalleled achievements, which force even his enemies to place him at the top of the greatest men of human history, the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, was poorer and more humble when he entered Makka victoriously than he was at the beginning of his mission.
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS PROVE MUHAMMAD’S PROPHETHOOD
Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, was peerless in educating people
A man, whoever he is and whatever he does, may regard his own occupation as more important, more necessary, more beneficial to social life and more difficult than others. However, although every occupation has some difficulty of its own and is of some degree of use for social life, educating people must be much more difficult than others and more necessary for a healthy social life.
EXAMPLES OF THE PREDICTIONS OF GOD’S MESSENGER
PREDICTIONS OF GOD’S MESSENGER CONCERNING HIS OWN TIME
PREDICTIONS OF GOD’S MESSENGER RELATED TO EVENTS THAT WOULD FOLLOW HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE WORLD
PREDICTIONS RELATED TO THE DISTANT FUTURE
THE PROPHETS MADE A COMPREHENSIVE INVITATION TO GOD
There was no fragmentation or compartmentalization in the way of the Prophets. They dealt with people and life in a holistic manner and never ignored or neglected any of man’s faculties. They appealed to man’s intellect, reason, spirit and all his outer and inner senses and feelings.
THE METHOD OF CONVEYING THE MESSAGE
Constant, continual striving is not only an essential feature of the delivering of the Message but it is actually an important element of the Prophetic method.
THE CONSISTENT EFFORT OF GOD’S MESSENGER IN CONVEYING THE MESSAGE
The communication of the Divine Message was the most essential characteristic of God’s Messenger, upon him be peace and blessings. We are troubled whenever we are hungry or thirsty, or when we have difficulty in breathing; but he was troubled if a day passed when he could not find someone to whom he could convey the Divine Message. He was so concerned about the guidance of people, and so physically pained by unbelief, that God advised him to be careful of his health, saying:
FURTHER REMARKS ON CONVEYING THE MESSAGE
An important point to take note of, regarding communication of the Message by the Prophet, upon him be peace and blessings, is that he set an excellent example of ardour in the duty of guiding people. Like him, also his Companions, following his way, tried their hardest to convey the Message. For example,
THE PROPHETS PRACTICED WHAT THEY PREACHED
If a preacher desires his preaching to be effective on people, he should practice what he preaches. One who says what he does not do can hardly expect to succeed in his mission. Actions speak louder than words. The Qur’an is very explicit in this matter:
