When Muhammad reached the age of forty, the angel Gabriel came to him bringing revelation. At first, Muhammad was instructed to invite only his immediate family, including his wife Khadijah, to Islam;
revealed to him that he should deliver Allah’s message to all humankind. For the rest of his life, he communicated this message to others, set an excellent example, and was a perfect role model for humanity.
In the year 632, Prophet Muhammad departed this world at the age of sixty-three.
Prophet Muhammad (may God’s blessings and peace be upon him) is called “the Seal of the Prophets.” As the final prophet, he was sent to confirm all the truth that had been revealed before him, including the original Gospel of Jesus (which is different from today’s Gospels).
The Glorious Qur’an testifies that
{Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets.}
(33:40)
Confirming the link between Jesus and him, Prophet Muhammad promised, “If a man believes in Jesus and then believes in me, he will get a double reward.” He also stated, “I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary, for there was no prophet between him and me.”
These Prophetic sayings show us how Muhammad honoured Jesus (may God’s blessings and peace be upon them both)
Later, I will discuss a prophecy that Jesus made in the Bible about the coming of Muhammad.
- In his book The Genuine Islam, Sir George Bernard Shaw wrote:
- Shaw added:
- Mahatma Gandhi pointed out:
- Wolfgang Goethe (the famous European poet) believed that:
- The Encyclopaedia Britannica (Vol. 12) cited:
- Thomas Carlyle stated in Heroes and Hero Worship:
He clarified that “Muhammad was not the founder of Islam; he did not start a new religion.”
- “The powerful is not he who knocks the other down; indeed the powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger.”
- “God does not judge you according to your bodies and appearances, but he scans your hearts and looks into your deeds.”
- “The best of you is he who is best to his family, and I am the best among you to my family.”
- “The best of you are those who are best to their women.”
- “The best of Islam is to behave with gentleness and tolerance.”
- “The best people are those most beneficial to [other] people.”
These are just some examples of the Prophet’s wise, wonderful, and golden sayings.
Prophet Muhammad also practiced what he taught; his dealings and behaviour towards others reflected his special and unique personality in his morals, mercy, honesty, sincerity, kindness, truthfulness, humbleness, generosity, forgiveness, patience, tolerance, and many other virtues.
The stories and evidence of the Prophet’s magnificent personal attributes are too numerous to mention here, so let us take just one example. After his Makkan opponents rejected him and his message of Islam... After they persecuted and mistreated him, trying to kill him many times... After they tortured and killed many of his followers and loved ones... After they fought him and his companions, driving them out of their homes and seizing their properties and land…
How did Muhammad treat these enemies when he entered Makkah and liberated it from idolatry and paganism?
In the wake of this momentous victory for Muhammad and the Muslims, at the climax of their joy, rapture and happiness at coming back home to the sacred city of Makkah… Prophet Muhammad gathered together the Makkans, who were afraid that he would harm or even kill them in revenge for their past abuse and killing of Muslims.
Muhammad asked them, “What do you think I am going to do with you?” They answered, “You are a generous brother and the son of an honourable brother of ours.” Then the kind, tolerant, generous, and merciful Prophet forgave them. He announced, “No harm will come to you. You may go. You are free.” Have you ever seen such a scene? Have you ever heard such a story? Can you sense the Prophet's mercy?
Describing this unprecedented historic event, Professor John Esposito stated: Eschewing vengeance and the plunder of conquest, the Prophet instead accepted a settlement, granting amnesty rather than wielding the sword toward his former enemies. For their part, the Meccans converted to Islam, accepted Muhammad’s leadership, and were incorporated within the umma (Muslim community).
In contrast, are you aware of the atrocities committed by various ‘superpower’ nations throughout human history, when they unjustly attacked, invaded, and tortured others?
Remarkably, the more we discover about Muhammad’s life, the more we come to realize his excellent conduct and character, and that he was indeed
{sent as a mercy to the worlds.}
(Qur’an 21:107)
Prophet Muhammad said, “I have been sent to perfect the noble traits of character.”
Confirming this fact, Allah tells him in the Glorious Qur’an,
{Indeed, you are of a great moral character.}