This is Muhammad, who are you?

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

This is Muhammad, who are you?

Ihab Kamal Ahmad



Praise be to Allah who is singled out with His Names who encompassed everything by His Mercy and knowledge, and bestowed blessings on His Pious Servants. Furthermore, He sent to them a Messenger from their best who was the most reasonable, the most forbearing, the most knowledgeable, the most understanding, the most powerful, and the most merciful. Allah purified his soul and body, purified him from every defect, granted him wisdom and judgment, and opened with him blind eyes, enveloped hearts, and deaf ears. So, those whom Allah willed to give a share of bliss were guided to believe in him, help and aid him, whereas those denied his signs are the wretched. Indeed, who was a blind to see the truth in this world shall be blind in the Hereafter, may Allah send peace and blessings be upon him, upon his family, and Companions. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the Prophet whom Allah sent to change the face of history and to get the humanity back to its senses after it was sunk in paganism, oppressive ignorant habits, bad moral deviations, and humiliating servitude to Satan and its troops.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) came in a period where the revelation interrupted and the Straight Path was lost to draw the people from darkness to light, guide them to the Straight Path, to show them light after blindness and aberrance, and to get them out from the worship of people to the worship of the Lord of all people, from the narrowness of the world to the wideness of the world and the Hereafter, and from the injustice of religions to the justice of Islam.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "It is He Who has sent His Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) with guidance and the religion of truth (Islâm), to make it superior over all religions even though the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) hate (it)." [Surat At-Tawbah: 33].
Allah sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a mercy for mankind and to save them from destruction, facilitating the way of happiness to them, and calling them to the true life in the light of monotheism and abandoning any servitude to others; thus his call was the cause of mercy to the entire humanity.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And We have sent you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)." [Surat Al Anbiya': 107].
The call of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the life for hearts and bodies, as it is the cause for happiness in this world for humans and jinn and the cause of eternal bliss and happiness where the true life in Paradise.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "O you who believe! Answer Allâh (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he (peace be upon him) calls you to that which will give you life, and know that Allâh comes in between a person and his heart (i.e. He prevents an evil person to decide anything). And verily, to Him you shall (all) be gathered." [Surat Al Anfal: 24].
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the keenest person to people, exerting all efforts in guiding them, and bearing for them mercy and complete clemency.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Verily, there has come to you a Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) from amongst yourselves (i.e. whom you know well). It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad peace be upon him) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allâh, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire); for the believers (he peace be upon him is) full of pity, kind, and merciful." [Surat At-Tawbah: 128].
As a result of his intensive mercy and compassion, he would die out of sadness and sorrow for his infidel enemies because of not believing in his message until Allah said to him: "Perhaps, you, would kill yourself (O Muhammad peace be upon him) in grief, over their footsteps (for their turning away from you), because they believe not in this narration (the Qur'ân)." [Surat Al Kahf: 6]. Allah (Glory be to Him) sent Muhammad (peace be upon him) to complete the call of Prophets and Messenger to good manners, so he called to every good manner and forbidding all corrupt and bad manners. It was reported in the Hadith that the Messenger of Allah said: I was sent only to complete good manners.[1] As the Prophet (peace be upon him) combined all qualities of perfection in his call, he also combined it in his sayings and actions, so he reached a degree of moral perfection that no human before him could reach; it is enough for him the testimony of the Lord of the Worlds by His Saying: "And Verily, you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) are on an exalted (standard of) character." [Surat Al Qalam: 4]. So, it was not strange that Allah made the following of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) an act of worship by which a person draws near to Allah and gains His Pleasure, a way to Paradise, and a way for salvation on the Day of Recompense. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allâh (Muhammad peace be upon him) you have a good example to follow for him who hopes for (the Meeting with) Allâh and the Last Day, and remembers Allâh much." [Surat Al Ahzab: 21].
Moreover, Allah made the following of Muhammad (peace be upon him) a sign of loving Allah, a sign for the truthfulness of this love, and a cause for the love of Allah to His Servants and the forgiveness of their sins. Allah (Glory be to Him) says: "Say (O Muhammad peace be upon him to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me (i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."" [Surat Al `Imran: 31].
Indeed, Allah chose Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be the seal of Prophets after whom there is no Prophet, so there is no way for salvation except by faith and following him because all ways are blocked except his and all gates are closed except his.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Muhammad (peace be upon him) is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allâh and the last (end) of the Prophets. And Allâh is Ever All-Knower of everything." [Surat Al Ahzab: 40].
Allah chose Muhammad (peace be upon him) to reveal to him the greatest divine book i.e., the Glorious Qur'an which came dominant to other divine books.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "And We have sent down to you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) the Book (this Qur'ân) in truth, confirming the Scripture (Books) that came before it and Muhaiminan (trustworthy in highness and a witness) over it (old Scriptures)." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 48].
Allah (Glory be to Him) chose Muhammad (peace be upon him) to carry the most honorable message, the most perfect Shari`ah, and the greatest religion is Islam, the most perfect blessing which Allah granted to His Servants.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me. This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." [Surat Al Ma'idah: 3].
Allah singled out Muhammad (peace be upon him) with the best Companions and the best followers who were the best proof to his perfect rearing, a practical proof to the completeness of his up-bringing, and a historical witness to its great effect in turning an entire generation from ignorance, darkness, and false doctrines into monotheism, purity, and the Shari`ah of abstinence and purity, and to a human perfection and high morals.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allâh. And those who are with him are severe against disbelievers, and merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and falling down prostrate (in prayer), seeking Bounty from Allâh and (His) Good Pleasure. The mark of them (i.e. of their Faith) is on their faces (foreheads) from the traces of prostration (during prayers). This is their description in the Taurât (Torah). But their description in the Injeel (Gospel) is like a (sown) seed which sends forth its shoot, then makes it strong, and becomes thick and it stands straight on its stem, delighting the sowers, that He may enrage the disbelievers with them. Allâh has promised those among them who believe (i.e. all those who follow Islâmic Monotheism, the religion of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him till the Day of Resurrection) and do righteous good deeds, forgiveness and a mighty reward (i.e., Paradise)." [Surat Al Fath: 29].
Allah chose the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be witnesses over all people, then Allah (Glory be to Him) chose him to be a witness over this nation.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "Thus We have made you [true Muslims - real believers of Islâmic Monotheism, true followers of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his Sunnah (legal ways)], a just (and the best) nation, that you be witnesses over mankind and the Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) be a witness over you." [Surat Al Baqarah: 143].
Allah (He may be Glorified) says: "How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) as a witness against these people?" [Surat An-Nisa': 41].
Furthermore, Allah chose the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be the best nation that was brought to people and was distinguished by executing the instructions of enjoining good and forbidding evil which the Prophet of mercy came with.
Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "You [true believers in Islâmic Monotheism, and real followers of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and his Sunnah] are the best of peoples ever raised up for mankind; you enjoin Al-Ma'rûf (i.e. Islâmic Monotheism and all that Islâm has ordained) and forbid Al-Munkar (polytheism, disbelief and all that Islâm has forbidden), and you believe in Allâh." [Surat Al `Imran: 110].
Allah chose Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be the first person to rise up from death on the Day of Recompense and to be the first intercessor. It was reported from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that he said: "With no arrogance, I shall be the master of the descendants of Adam. I shall be the first one to rise from death on the Day of Recompense, with no arrogance. I am the first intercessor and the first one whose intercession shall be accepted, with not arrogance, and the banner of praise shall be in my hand on the Day of Recompense, with no arrogance."[2]
Moreover, the gates of Paradise shall not be opened except for Muhammad (peace be upon him). He will be the first knocker at the gates of Paradise. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "I will come to the gate of Paradise on the Day of Resurrection and would seek its opening. The keeper would say: Who are you? I would say: Muhammad. He would then say: It is for you that I have been ordered, and not to open it for anyone before you." [3]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "I would be the first to knock at the door of Paradise." [4]
Verily, Allah chose the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him) to be the first nation to enter Paradise as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "We are the last (but) we would be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and we would be the first to enter Paradise."[5] Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the master of mankind and the most honorable Messenger. He is the most honorable and the highest in rank by the virtues and qualities which Allah granted him, and no one was given such qualities but he.

He is the given mercy, the blessing, the master of guidance, the lamp which spreads light, and the mercy for mankind.

He is a cloud who is not harmed by the barking of the people who spread false news among the people, a summit which the arrows of doubters cannot reach, and a great mountain that cannot be shaken by the lies of the disbelievers and the false claims of the enemies of the religion.

O Muslims, list your heads high in the sky because you are the followers of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), prostrate to Allah gratefully because you are the brothers of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and cheer up, O people who love the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), because you shall be in his company in the Gardens of Delight on beds facing one another.
As for the followers of devils, those are the ones who want to underestimate the best of mankind and the seal of Prophets, insulting their master and the master of mankind. I say to them all:
This is Muhammad, who are you?

[1] Reported by Ahmad (8595) from the Hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), and its chain of transmission is authentic. Al Haythamy said in Majma` Az-Zawa'id: Reported by Imam Ahmad and its narrators are Rijal Al-Sahih (narrators of Hadith compiled by Al-Bukhari and/or Muslim). Imam Al `Ajlouny graded its chain of transmission as authentic in Kashf Al Khafa', and Al Albany graded it as authentic in Sahih Al Jami` (2349).

[2]At-Tirmidhy (3548) Ibn Majah (4298) and Al Albany graded it as authentic in As-Silsilah As-Sahihah (1571).

[3] Sahih Muslim (292).

[4] Sahih Muslim (290).

[5] Sahih Al Bukhari, 231 and Sahih Muslim (1413).