Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) occupies an exalted, everlasting, and the most unique position in the religious history of mankind. Of all the Founders of Religion, only Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is the first and the last to claim that the Message that he brought from Allah Ta’ala to mankind is absolutely complete and final, that his dispensation shall remain in force till the end of the world, and after him, no Divine Messenger will come to modify, add, subtract or abrogate any of his teachings. In him, the institution of Prophethood attained its full, final, and most perfect form.
History shows that the world from the beginning has not produced any other man who can rival the Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) in the field of his teachings, his actions, his deeds or practical way of life.
It was Hazrat Muhammad’s (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) grandest contribution to the elevation of his fellow-men that he re-affirmed the sovereign principle of Monotheism and universal brotherhood of man transcending all barriers that people erect in ignorance and fear. Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) arose in the midst of a society that was cruelly barbarous, which had no culture, no manners, no society, and no civilization. Humanity was coming very close to calamity. Imagine the same society is today the noble torch-bearer of a new and excellent civilization. This is one of the main miracles the Prophet of Islam (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) performed and world history bears testimony to this truth. In a short span of 23 years, he brought under one banner a most barbarous tribe spread over 2 000 000 square miles of a very remote region of the world.
It is a universal fact that Hazrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is the only Prophet in whose honor praises have been sung by all other religious leaders and some have rather recommended to their followers to follow the path of this great Prophet. People like Guru Nanak, the spiritual head of the Sikh sect, and George Bernard Shaw, the philosopher, are such personalities.
Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) accomplished what he undertook in his own short span of life with limited means and all-round adversities, trials tortures, and tribulations. The task that he accomplished, the work that he did, the manners and the character that he exhibited, and above all, the way in which he completed this stupendous task, is itself clear proof of his being the last and the living Messenger of Allah whose religion is perfect, character blotless and complete, and teachings marvelous in all respects.
What he preached appealed to man’s reasons and rational faculties rather than to mere sentimentalism, fanaticism, irrationality, and superstition. He showed what was crystal clear.
Although he was an apostle, philosopher, reformer, religious head, statesman, orator, commander, soldier, administrator, and the head of state, he never sat an inch above the place where his followers used to sit or ate a morsel more than his Companions ate or wore what was superior than what others used to wear. He was a selfless and sincere friend, a perfect guide, a graceful companion, a loving teacher, an impartial judge, and above all a simple and straightforward person. He sat in such a simple attire and mixed up so freely and simply with all the common people that the foreign delegations visiting his capital used to inquire from others as to who the Prophet of Islam was. Can any head of the state or any religious head in any part of the world boast to possess such an amicable nature? Can any head of state be so courageous?
History has known many great and glorious civilizations. The main among them are the Chinese civilization, Greek civilization, Roman civilization, Marxism, and Imperialistic. None owes its origin and establishment to a single individual. Nor can it be counted as everlasting. Moreover, these civilizations of the world covered a certain field and certain parts of the world. All the civilizations were basically collective efforts of many, but Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) gave Islamic civilization single-handedly for all times to come.
Over the hills of Makkah, there was a heavenly glow. The birth of our Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was an earth-shaking event in the year 570 A.D. Born in the most backward and uncivilized city of Makkah in the Middle East, lived only 63 years in this world, remained unlettered throughout, but changed the destiny of the entire humanity. The whole culture of humanity and the existence of the human race was revolutionized during these 23 years of his Prophethood and throughout the world, he was the only single person with multiple capacities who could successfully carry out this stupendous task in such a short span of time and amidst untold adversities. He was the Prophet who uprooted Polytheism once and for all.
His father, Hazrat Abdullah (radi Allahu anhu) and mother, Bibi Aaminah (radi Allahu anhu), passed away after his birth. His grandfather, Hazrat Abdul Mutallib (radi Allahu anhu), who took care of him, too soon passed away. He was thus an orphan. Dai Halimah (radi Allahu anha) took care of him for full five years in the desert. But no one knew at that time that this shy, sweet and sublime orphan will grow up to be the greatest and the last Prophet of Allah and show the world the real path to salvation in the most simple and straightforward style. They never knew that he is Mercy for them as well as for all the worlds and all the generations and all ages so long as the world lasts. Allah Ta’ala says in the Holy Quran: “We sent to you not but as a Mercy for all mankind“.
The personality of Sayyiduna Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) is the most perfect and profound in history. A personification of the moral code of life as enshrined in the Holy Quran, he created a moral society and a just State that blended the spiritual with the temporal in the most beautifully balanced synthesis. This was the only Prophet whose words and deeds were 100% alike. He preached what he and his Companions practiced, he treated the King and commoner alike. He was sweet, simple, civil, and kind to each and every one. He never hurt the feelings of even his deadliest enemy.