Prophet Muhammad: A Divine Mercy for the Worlds: Lecture 2
Author: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei Muhammad; the Most Preferred Prophet
Amongst all the Prophets and the Messengers of Allah, the last and the Seal of the Prophets, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) is the most preferred of all and the highest in rank in the sight of Allah. The Almighty Allah states:
“ Those Messengers! We preferred some of them to others; to some of them Allah spoke (directly); others He raised to degrees. ” [2:253]
The phrase ‘ others He raised to degrees ` is meant for Prophet Muhammad. There are several reasons as to why the Almighty Allah has raised the degrees of His last Messengers above all other Prophets. The following are some examples:
1. The Almighty Allah sent Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w.) but as a mercy for the worlds. Thus, he must be the most virtuous of all creation, material and immaterial. Allah states:
“and We have sent you (O Muhammad) not but as a mercy for the worlds”
2. The Almighty Allah elevated the name of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) to be declared five times a day after the Name of Allah during Athan and Eqama.
“And have We not raised high your fame?” [94:4]
3. The holy Quran considers the obedience to Prophet Muhammad equal to the obedience to God. “He who obeys the Messenger, has indeed obeyed Allah.
” A covenant with Prophet Muhammad is a covenant with God. “Verily, those who give pledge to you (O Muhammad) they are giving pledge to Allah.” [48:10].
Satisfaction of Prophet Muhammad is coupled with the satisfaction of Allah.
“It is more fitting that they should please Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad).” [9:62]
Answering the call of Prophet Muhammad is regarded the same as answering the call of the Almighty Allah.
“O you who believe! Answer Allah and (His) Messenger when he calls you.” [8:24]
4. The Almighty Allah honoured Moses by granting him nine Signs (miracles) [27:12], but Allah established every sentence of the Quran –which was granted to Prophet Muhammad- as a Sign (miracles) and calls for a challenge upon all the humans and the jinns if they could produce something like unto it.
5. The main miracle of Prophet Muhammad, i.e. the holy Quran is more virtuous than the miracles of the previous Prophets for not only it is the verbatim Word of God, it is an everlasting miracle. If the miracle of Prophet Muhammad is more virtuous than the miracles of the previous Prophets, then Prophet Muhammad himself must also be more virtuous than other Prophets.
6. The Almighty God addressed the Prophets with their names. For instance, He says: “O Moses!” [20:10], or “O Adam!” [2:35], or “O Ibrahim!” [37:104]. But He is addressing the Prophet of Islam with his title ‘O Messenger!” or “O Prophet!” which indicates a special honour.
7. The Almighty Allah ordered the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam out of respect to him, but ordered the angels to give their Salat to Prophet Muhammad in order for them to be nearer to Allah. Also, Salat for Prophet Muhammad continues until the Day of Judgment, whereas the prostration for Adam had to be offered only once. Moreover, Allah ordered the angels to prostrate themselves before Adam in respect of the light of Muhammad (s.a.w.w) that Adam had on his forehead.
In short, all the virtues of the previous Prophets were also given to Prophet Muhammad in addition to his own unique virtues.
OTHER LINKS:
Prophet Muhammad: A Divine Mercy for the Worlds: Lecture 1
Islam the First and Last Religion
Source:
www.ihic.org.au
Author: Sheikh Mansour Leghaei
