”Who would come under the banner of Bilal (a former Ethiopian slave) and

Permitted them to worship in the sacred mosques of Islam … yes.
You Are par-excellence … an embodiment …

The most noble of God’s creation … would that I could have spilled
My blood as martyr for your sweet sake and safety. You are
Altogether lovely … you are my beloved … you are Muhammad”

(Poem : Muhammad … A Light Unto Mankind )

The greatest benefactor of mankind. He was the last of the law-bearing Prophets of God. His coming was prophesied by the holy founders of all religions, and their successors. His law was the last law or revealed book for mankind as a complete unit. Prophets before him were national prophets. His message was universal. God commands him to say in the Quran,

O mankind, truly I am a Messenger to you all from your Lord. The God of Islam is the One God of all people. The Quran says, All praises belong to Allah (God), Lord, Creator, and Sustainer of all of mankind, and not Hear ye Israel, the Lord our God is One God or The Lord God of Israel, who does wondrous things.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, had the real status of a Prophet and not that of a ruler upon this earth. He was the seal of the Prophets i.e., the best and the most perfect of the prophets, the embellishment and ornament of the prophets, instead of being a monarch or an emperor. Almighty God describes his status in the Holy Quran:

And Muhammad is not the father to any men among you but he is only a messenger of God and the seal of the Prophets. (33:41)

What about Muhammad (Saw) ?

We find that his coming was foretold in clear and precise terms not only by Jesus himself but by Moses and other Biblical prophets as well. In fact it seems from whatever words of Jesus are available to the world, that the bringing of glad tidings of a great coming prophet was one of the chief objects of his mission.

Again and again Jesus said that he was sent to the world only to give as much guidance as the people of his own time could bear. As for complete teaching which would stay forever with mankind, he said:

But the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14-26)

Only the prophet of Islam could have fulfilled this prophecy of Jesus. Muhammad was truly sent in his name because he bore testimony to his truth. The Holy Quran says:

The Messiah, son of Mary, was a messenger, “surely messengers like unto him had passed away before him” (The Holy Quran 5:76)

The Holy Quran reports that the angels told Mary:

Surely Allah gives you good news with a word from Him of whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, worthy of regard in this world and hereafter. (The Holy Quran 3:46)

A blessing for mankind

Not only the Jewish and Christian scriptures but also the Hindu scriptures contain many prophecies about the Holy Prophet of Islam^SAW.

Among the four Vedas of the Hindus, Athra Veda occupies a prominent position. It is also known as Brahma Ved (i.e. Divine knowledge). It contains the following prophecy:

O people! listen to these words with reverence. A very praise-worthy person will appear among the people. He will accept him from among 60090 enemies. His means of transport would be 20 camels . His name will soar high and then return. This great Rishi will have 100 gold coins, 10 pearl necklaces, 300 Arab horses and 10,000 cows.
(Athra Ved Kantam 20-127, 70-1-3)

Bhavisyath Puran also contains a prophecy regarding the advent of the Holy Prophet ^SAW. Maharishi Vyas Muni occupies an emminent position among the Hindus because of his vast knowledge and wisdom, and God-given capabilities. In addition to other religious literature, he has written 18 Puranas such as Brahma Puran, Bhagath Puran. The 18th Puran is named Bhavisyath Puran. It contains prophecies pertaining to the future. According to the beliefs of the Hindus this book contains Divine revelations and prophecies. This Bhavisyath Puran contains the following prophecy regarding the Holy Prophet:

A spiritual reformer will come from a foreign land (outside Bharat) with his disciples (companions). His name will be Mahamad (Muhammad). He will dwell in a desert.
(Bhavisyath Purana 3:5-8)

Whenever there is decay of Dharma (i.e., religion) and there is spread of Adharma (i.e. irreligion) then for the protection of the poor and the good and for the destruction of the evil-doers, I shall appear from age to age.
(Srimad Bhagrat Gita 4:7,8)

The Holy Prophet ^SAW gathered together all the nations and religions on a common platform on the basis of their own teachings which are founded on Divine Unity. He gave the message of equality of mankind and universal brotherhood. The Holy Quran says about itself:

Therein are lasting commandments.
(98:4)

We would not be if he wasn’t !

Almighty God has been sending innumerable messengers for the spiritual progress of mankind. Among these have been Prophets Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Krishna, Ramchandra, Zoroaster, Confucius (peace be on all of them). Ultimately when the human mind attained its full development and the time approached when mankind was about to become one people, the system of sending different messengers for different nations was terminated and Almighty God sent the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as an exemplar for all mankind. He appeared in Arabia about 1400 years ago. Addressing him God says in the Holy Quran:

Say, O Mankind! truly I am a Messenger to you all from Allah to Whom belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. There is no god but He. He gives life and He causes death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet, the Immaculate one, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be rightly guided.
(7:159)

So great was this Master Prophet, that God has said of him, but, for thee O Muhammad, I would not have cared to bring into existence the whole of the Universe. He was in love with God, and God was in love with him. A tree is known by its fruits (Bible).

However, as much as we love him, we do not worship him, we worship Allah (God) alone.

Ref:

• 1  The Review of Religions, October 1992 (A tribute to the Holy Founder of Islam)
• 2 http://www.alislam.org/library/links/00000127.html
• 3 http://www.alislam.org/books/in-bible/index.html
• 4 http://www.alislam.org/library/links/in_vedas.htm