If we compare the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) before and after his mission as a Prophet, we will conclude that it is unreasonable to think that Muhammad was a false prophet who claimed Prophethood to attain material gains, greatness, glory, or power. Before his mission as a Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him) had no financial worries.

As a successful and reputed merchant, he earned a satisfactory and comfortable income. After his mission as a Prophet and because of it, he became worse-off materially. To clarify this, let us look at the following sayings on his life:

Muhammad’s wife `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) once said to her nephew, `Urwah ibn az-Zubayr, “O my nephew, we would sight three new moons in two months without lighting a fire (to cook a meal) in the Prophet’s houses.” Her nephew asked, “O aunt, what sustained you?” She said, “The two black things, dates and water, but the Prophet (peace be upon him) had some neighbors of the Ansar who had milch camels and they used to send the Prophet some of the milk.” Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) , a Companion of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), said, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not eat at a table till he died, and he did not eat a thin nicely baked wheat bread till he died.”

Prophet Muhammad’s wife `A’ishah said , “The Prophet’s (peace be upon him) mattress on which he slept was made of leather stuffed with the fiber of the date-palm tree.”

`Amr ibn Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with him), one of Prophet’s Companions, said that when the Prophet died, he left neither money nor anything else except his white riding mule, his arms, and a piece of land that he left to charity.

Prophet Muhammad lived this hard life till he died although the Muslim treasury was at his disposal, the greater part of the Arabian Peninsula was Muslim before he died, and the Muslims became victorious after 18 years of his Mission. Is it possible that Muhammad might have claimed Prophet hood in order to attain status, greatness, and power?