Arguments for Messengership – Part 22

The Reasonings (page 128)

“…All the Prophets, upon them be peace, adopted and strictly observed these as the basics principles in their actions.  In addition, their treatment of their people’s view of them, their perfect altruism and selflessness, and many other factors all proved that they were Prophets.  The attributes essential to Prophethood (truthfulness, intellect, trustworthiness, communication of the Divine Message, sinlessness, and freedom from physical and mental defects) were found in the most perfect form in Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace and blessings, who appeared in the Arabian Peninsula at a time when humankind was at the threshold of its maturity, and became the unique source and teacher of all elevated sciences for humanity.  This inevitably leads us to the conclusion that Prophet Muhammad was undoubtedly a Prophet.  In addition to these proofs, all the proofs including their miracles, which establish the Prophethood of all the preceding Prophets also prove Muhammad’s Prophethood, upon whom be peace and blessings.”

Question: Why should we accept the proofs if we did not experience them directly?

We somehow experience the reference as the results extended into our time.  As the text states, truthfulness, intellect, sinlessness, communication of the Divine Message, trustworthiness…  The Divine Message he brought is continuing i.e. people’s trust in Muhammad as the Prophet continues.

How can we experience the truthfulness of the Divine Message?

If we do not experience one characteristics, then we can experience another one.  Muhammad’s characteristic has no disputes up until now and we have not experienced any doubts throughout the centuries by people.  The preceding Prophets conform with what is narrated by the Prophet.  Although we do not experience it in front of us the impact the message had on the community, it must have had a huge impact as we do not hear it otherwise.

• All historical narrations agreed on the same characteristics of the Prophets.

Why do we say that we believe in the Prophethood of Muhammad?

• Because of the message he brought to us.

What do I mean when I say that I testify and believe that Muhammad was the messenger of God?  Have you seen him?

Who is Muhammad for you?

• The one who leads the heritage of the culture of Islam.

If you did not agree with this heritage, then you would not confirm that the historical personage (Muhammad) was a Prophet.  Even the contemporaries of Muhammad did not know at the beginning that he was the appointed person.  No one has physically experienced that Muhammad has been appointed as a Messenger by God.  As more and more the message was revealed then the people started having a confidence in his mission as a Messenger. There is no difference between you and his wife as far as approving his message is concerned.

• What convinced them primarily was the message he brought.
• He instructed people with certain moral understandings and the people complied with it and established communities accordingly.
• You are a human being, you have your consciousness, you use your capacity and accordingly come to a conclusion.

The contemporaries of the Prophets were not privileged as you may think.  Belief is one’s own personal conviction of the message the Prophets brought to mankind.  Only, then can you testify and confirm that this messenger is an employ of God.  Quran teaches nothing but what is in your inborn nature.  With this understanding, belief means not contradicting your inborn nature i.e. your human side.

• In other words, Quran teaches us to get back to our inborn state through making use of all our feelings, intellect and human qualities.
• One must go through the process of confirmation within themselves.

We cannot accept our cultural heritage without confirming the truthfulness of the message within ourselves.  What may prevent us from fully being convinced with the message is our own biases stemming from our ego where we may justify our wrongdoings.  However, deep down we all know that we are doing wrong.  For example: a murderer knows that killing is wrong but he still murders people.  At least admit that what you have done is wrong because of your weakness and mistake.

Science wants to have physical concrete evidence to prove something.  No one can physically prove the existence of God.  The Necessary Existence of God is our conclusion which is really one’s awareness of their consciousness.  That is what religion teaches us, to come to our own conclusions through our consciousness.  The conclusions about the Creator of the universe cannot be proven physically.  The conclusions can only be shared.  Otherwise, we will have to go on physically concluding belief in angels (message bearers), belief in hereafter and even the Prophet receiving revelation. All of these matters are to be confirmed by logical conclusions after observing the evidence demonstrated in the way the universe is given existence.

Belief must be a process which takes place within myself.  Inherited religion means nothing to one’s human side.  Consult yourself!

• Belief is your conclusion about what this universe refers to and what your existence refers to. “Yes, this message brought by Muhammad is confirmable with my nature and this messenger must be a message bearer from my Creator.”
• Check yourself: what this messenger teaches me, does it contradict my human nature or not within myself, not the community?
• The fundamental teaching of God’s religion conforms the religion of inborn human nature. We investigate the act of creation in the universe by using our inborn human nature. Consequently we confirm the truthfulness of the teaching of God’s religion.
• We are not receiving extra information from outside.

What are elevated sciences?

The witness of the truthfulness of the message brought by the messenger.  The message we receive from Muhammad possesses the quality of being the teacher of the elevated sciences which I can agree to within myself by using my own human qualities.  No one knows if I am sincere or an imitator.  Only, I know that within myself.  That is why in this sense, belief is the result of one’s personal journey, nothing to do with your being belonging to a certain community or race.

• Tribalism is what Muhammad wanted to destroy.

Physical presence of the Prophetic message is needed, that is how we are created, i.e. in physical world.  The teacher must teach me with the language that I understand.  If my Creator has created me with the need to have a teacher, then it is a bonus for me to have the message from the messenger.  That is why the Prophetic message is described as Mercy from your Creator.  Hence, benefit from it.  The Prophetic teachings fortify in verbal form what you have extracted from the universe, which is a bonus.  “This bonus does not contradict with what I see in my practical physical life”.

Why don’t you listen to the message and check if it makes sense to your uncorrupted human nature?  No one in this world knows your corrupted human nature except yourself.  That is why your personal confidence in your conclusion matters first for belief and religion.  We are students and we listen to the teachers.  Ultimately, you must confirm for yourself by using your own human qualities what the teacher says is right.  That is belief, a result of the process which took place within myself.

• If you want to fulfill your human mission in this world, then you must come to your own belief, not information.