Our Lord! Raise up for them [the children of Ishmael] a Messenger from among them who will recite to them Your revelations and will teach them the Book and wisdom and will purify them [of sin and unbelief]. Surely You alone are Almighty, the Wise.
(al-Baqarah 2:129)
There is ample evidence to prove that he accomplished his fourfold mission well. At the time he appeared on the scene, the Arabs had discarded and corrupted the divine message conveyed to them by the Prophet Abraham. All sorts of evil – social, moral and economic – had crept into their way of life. They were given to drinking, causing bloodshed and sexual licentiousness. They had grown so callous that they used to bury their daughters alive. They had installed hundreds of idols in and around the Ka‘bah and openly indulged in polytheism. As a pious person even in his pre-prophetic life, Muḥammad felt disturbed over the degeneration which he observed in his society.
When he was 40 years old, Allah appointed him His final Messenger, directing him to convey divine guidance in both word and deed. The Archangel Gabriel transmitted to him the opening verses of Sūrah al-‘Alaq, which constitute the first installment of divine revelation. Throughout the 23 years of his Prophetic career he received at intervals its other parts, which taken together comprise the Qur’ān, the final Book of guidance for all mankind, regardless of time and place. His main assignment consisted in giving the good news to believers and warning unbelievers. At several places the Qur’ān projects him in this role. (See al-Baqarah 2:119, al-Nisā’ 4:170, al-Mā’idah 5:19, al-An‘ām 6:104, al-A‘rāf 7:184 and 188, Hūd 11:2, al-Ḥijr 15:98, al-Naḥl 16:89, al-Isrā’ 17:105, al-Ḥajj 22:67, al-Furqān 25:1 and 56, al-‘Ankabūt 29:50 and al-Aḥzāb 33:45.)
He made plain his adherence to the Prophet Abraham’s way with a view to reminding fellow Arabs of their original faith. So doing, he emphasised also the cardinal principles of monotheism in faith:
[Abraham declared] “As to me, I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him Who created the heavens and earth. Never shall I ascribe partners to Allah.”
(al-An‘ām 6:79)
The Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) presented the essence of the creed of earlier messengers, asserting that he was there to confirm the Scriptures originally sent down to mankind. The Qur’ān stresses the essential similarity between its message and that of the Books revealed to other messengers. For all of these originated from the same source – Allah. Since earlier Scriptures had been corrupted by the wicked beyond recognition, there was a need to revive the original divine message. This task was performed by the Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Not only did he transmit faithfully the Word of Allah, he also demonstrated the way of life of a true believer. His distinguished life and conduct serve as the role model for all time and place. For example, Allah directed him to engage sincerely in worshipping Him in order to achieve closeness to Him. Moreover, he displayed exemplary bravery, courage and tact in overcoming the unbelievers on the battleground, (Āl ‘Imrān 3:153 and al-Isrā’ 17:74). These and many other points are cited in the Qur’ān in order to vindicate his genuine Messengership. The following passages, in particular, adduce arguments in support of his designation as Allah’s Messenger:
Rather, Allah promised him the highest reward imaginable – that of elevating him to the station of praise and glory:
Your Lord will raise you to the rank of praise and glory.
(al-Isrā’ 17:79)
And We have exalted your fame.
(al-Inshirāḥ 94:4)
Another of his distinctions is that he is the last Messenger in the chain of Allah’s envoys. What this signifies is that Islam as revealed to and preached by him will serve as the final message for all time to come. The universality and timelessness of his mission are special to him, (Muḥammad 47:18 and al-Aḥzāb 33:40). As part of His grand plan for the guidance of mankind, Allah sent the Prophet Muḥammad (peace and blessings be upon him) down as the mercy for all the worlds, (al-Anbiyā’ 21:107). Abiding by his directives amounts to obeying Allah. This underscores his pivotal position in matters of faith. Ḥadīth and Sunnah, his sayings and deeds respectively, are therefore, of the utmost importance in Islam and constitute the primary sources of faith. The Qur’ān commands Muslims to obey him unquestioningly:
And obey Allah and the Messenger, that you may obtain His mercy.
(Āl ‘Imrān 3:132)
He who obeys the Messenger, obeys Allah.
(al-Nisā’ 4:80)
He that obeys Allah and His Messenger attains the highest achievement.
(al-Aḥzāb 33:71)
Of similar import are the following passages, al-Mā’idah 5:92, al-Anfāl 8:2 and 64, al-Tawbah 9:71, al-Nūr 24:54, Muḥammad 47:33 and al-Taghābun 64:12.
Notwithstanding his many special features, the Prophet is a mortal human being, a servant of Allah, chosen by Him to convey His message to man. He does not share any trait of divinity. Nor does he have access to the realm of the Unseen which is only Allah’s prerogative. The Islamic concept of messengership is marked by balance and moderation. Unlike Christianity, it does not elevate the Prophet to Godhead. And, unlike some other faiths, it does not project a tainted picture of messengers, given to worldliness and vice. In keeping with its cardinal principle of monotheism, the Qur’ān denies any suprahuman feature