The Universal Model

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is a transcript of discourse given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

The Creator, in His Wisdom, Made man His vicegerent here on the Earth.  The implication of this mission entails cultivating the personality both physically and spiritually to produce a unique relationship with man’s connection to his fellow human beings both physically and spiritually, to the environment, and to the Lord Himself.  A challenger, Satan, is also Permitted to test the sincerity of man in the process of his representation of the Lord here on the Earth, and to cause him to become forgetful of the purpose for which he was sent. 

The Lord, out of Compassion and Mercy, Sent Messengers to help the people stay on the correct path by helping them to make the right choices during their daily activities.  Each Messenger is specially Appointed by the Lord.  Every one of them delivered the Message to the people to whom they were Sent, and no matter what were the challenges to which they were exposed, they never put their personal feelings or interest in their Mission.  Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us about it in the following verse of the Qur’an: 

سُوۡرَةُ آل عِمرَان

وَمَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَغُلَّ‌ۚ … (١٦١) 

No prophet could (ever) be false to his trust ... (Surah Ali ‘Imran:161) 

As each Messenger was Sent to a specific tribe or nation, it is possible that there were many Messengers in the world in different parts at the same time.  Even just before the coming of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) there were two Messengers, John (a.s.) and Jesus (a.s.) among the Israelites at the same time. 

Up to the time of the coming of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), the Arabs never had a Messenger.  Makkah became populated when Ishmael (a.s.) and his mother, Hagar (a.s.), were put there by Abraham (a.s.), upon Divine Inspiration.  For reasons only known to the Lord, Preference was given by Him to the progeny of Isaac (a.s.), that is, the Israelites to establish the religion of Allah (s.w.t.) on the Earth.  So, from Jacob (a.s.) to Jesus (a.s.), there were many Messengers who came and invite the people to the way of the Lord.  In contrast to this, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) was the only Messenger who was sent to the Arabs since Ishmael (a.s.).  Before Jesus (a.s.) left the world, he told the people the Promised Messenger would be coming.  He said: 

John.16:12-19

¹² “I have still much to say to you, but it is beyond your reach as yet.  ¹³ It will be for him, the Truth-Giving Spirit, when he comes, to guide you into all truth.  He will not utter a message of his own; he will utter the message that has been Given to him; and he will make plain to you what is still to come.  ¹⁴ And he will bring honour to me, because it is from me that he will derive what he makes plain to you.  ¹⁵ I say that he will derive from me what he makes plain to you, because all that Belongs to the Father belongs to me.  ¹⁶ After a little while, you will see me no longer; and again after a little while you will have sight of me, because I am going back to the Father.”  ¹⁷ Upon this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean, that he is saying to us, ‘After a little while, you will see me no longer, and again after a little while you will have sight of me?’ And then, ‘Because I am going back to my Father?’  ¹⁸ What is this little while he speaks of?” they asked.  “We cannot understand what he means by it.”  ¹⁹ Jesus, knowing that they were eager to question him, said to them, “You are wondering among yourselves over what I have been saying, ‘After a little while you will see me no longer, and again after a little while you will have sight of me.’” 

¹² ἔτι πολλὰ ἔχω ὑμῖν λέγειν, ἀλλ' οὐ δύνασθε βαστάζειν ἄρτι: ¹³ ὅταν δὲ ἔλθῃ ἐκεῖνος, τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, ὁδηγήσει ὑμᾶς ἐν τῇ ἀληθείᾳ πάσῃ: οὐ γὰρ λαλήσει ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ, ἀλλ' ὅσα ἀκούσει λαλήσει, καὶ τὰ ἐρχόμενα ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν.  ¹⁴ ἐκεῖνος ἐμὲ δοξάσει, ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἐμοῦ λήμψεται καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν.  ¹⁵ πάντα ὅσα ἔχει ὁ πατὴρ ἐμά ἐστιν: διὰ τοῦτο εἶπον ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἐμοῦ λαμβάνει καὶ ἀναγγελεῖ ὑμῖν.  ¹⁶ μικρὸν καὶ οὐκέτι θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με.  ¹⁷ εἶπαν οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ πρὸς ἀλλήλους: τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει ἡμῖν: μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με; καί ὅτι ὑπάγω πρὸς τὸν πατέρα; ¹⁸ ἔλεγον οὖν: τί ἐστιν τοῦτο ὃ λέγει, τὸ μικρόν; οὐκ οἴδαμεν τί λαλεῖ.  ¹⁹ ἔγνω ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἤθελον αὐτὸν ἐρωτᾶν, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς: περὶ τούτου ζητεῖτε μετ' ἀλλήλων ὅτι εἶπον, μικρὸν καὶ οὐ θεωρεῖτέ με, καὶ πάλιν μικρὸν καὶ ὄψεσθέ με; 

¹² Adhuc multa habeo vobis dicere, sed non potestis portare modo.  ¹³ Cum autem venerit ille Spiritus veritatis, docebit vos omnem veritatem: non enim loquetur a semetipso, sed quæcumque audiet loquetur, et quæ ventura sunt annuntiabit vobis.  ¹⁴ Ille me clarificabit, quia de meo accipiet, et annuntiabit vobis.  ¹⁵ Omnia quæcumque habet Pater, mea sunt. Propterea dixi: quia de meo accipiet, et annuntiabit vobis.  ¹⁶ Modicum, et jam non videbitis me; et iterum modicum, et videbitis me: quia vado ad Patrem.  ¹⁷ Dixerunt ergo ex discipulis ejus ad invicem: Quid est hoc quod dicit nobis: Modicum, et non videbitis me; et iterum modicum, et videbitis me, et quia vado ad Patrem?  ¹⁸ Dicebant ergo: Quid est hoc quod dicit: Modicum?  nescimus quid loquitur.  ¹⁹ Cognovit autem Jesus, quia volebant eum interrogare, et dixit eis: De hoc quæritis inter vos quia dixi: Modicum, et non videbitis me; et iterum modicum, et videbitis me. 

The Qur’an also Supports the fact that Jesus (a.s.) told his people about the coming of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.).  This is Recorded in following verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ الصَّف

وَإِذۡ قَالَ عِيسَى ٱبۡنُ مَرۡيَمَ يَـٰبَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَيۡكُم مُّصَدِّقً۬ا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَىَّ مِنَ ٱلتَّوۡرَٮٰةِ وَمُبَشِّرَۢا بِرَسُولٍ۬ يَأۡتِى مِنۢ بَعۡدِى ٱسۡمُهُ ۥۤ أَحۡمَدُ‌ۖ فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ قَالُواْ هَـٰذَا سِحۡرٌ۬ مُّبِينٌ۬ (٦) 

And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said, “O Children of Israel!  I am the Messenger of Allah (Sent) to you confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be ‘Ahmad’.”  But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, “This is evident sorcery!” (Surah asw-Swaff:6) 

The Arabs were a people that were not influenced by any “-ism”, that were prevalent at the time.  Perhaps, this was one of the reasons why they were called “ummiyun”, which could mean not influenced by any civilisation or culture.  In addition to being unlettered, they were also not influenced by anyone.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

وَمِنۡہُمۡ أُمِّيُّونَ لَا يَعۡلَمُونَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّآ أَمَانِىَّ وَإِنۡ هُمۡ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ (٧٨) 

And there are among them illiterates, who know not the Book, but (see therein their own) desires, and they do nothing but conjecture. (Surah al-Baqarah:78) 

سُوۡرَةُ العَنکبوت

وَمَا كُنتَ تَتۡلُواْ مِن قَبۡلِهِۦ مِن كِتَـٰبٍ۬ وَلَا تَخُطُّهُ ۥ بِيَمِينِكَ‌ۖ إِذً۬ا لَّٱرۡتَابَ ٱلۡمُبۡطِلُونَ (٤٨) 

And you were not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came) nor are you (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: in that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted. (Surah al-‘Ankabut:48) 

As the Arabs grew as a nation all by themselves, and they were not connected to any of the known civilisations, Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.), who was from among the progeny of Ishmael (a.s.), grew up not being influenced by anyone.  Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us about this in the following verse: 

سُوۡرَةُ الجُمُعَة

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى بَعَثَ فِى ٱلۡأُمِّيِّـۧنَ رَسُولاً۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيہِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ لَفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (٢) 

It is He Who has Sent, amongst the unlettered, a Messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom ― although they had been, before, in manifest error ― (Surah al-Jumu’ah:2) 

Had there been any Messenger or teacher before the Prophet (s.a.w.), then, he could have been accused of copying.  But, he being the first amongst the Arabs to be a believer in Allah (s.w.t.) and the Last Day, the verse which says about him that he was the first Muslim, can be applicable in this case, as before him there were no believer amongst the Arabs. 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) is special.  Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) is the outstanding personality in the entire Creation.  Some of the reasons for being unique are: He is the first in Creation to be a believer; the first Messenger to receive the unadulterated Word of Allah (s.w.t.) Directly from Him in the form of a complete Book; the only one to be recognised as the best example for anyone to follow; the only one to be a universal model for mankind; the only one who gave to the world a universal message that is the source of guidance for all times and places; the only Messenger who was able to inform his followers about the beginning and end of the universe and all Creation; the only Messenger to teach that forgiveness is better than to take revenge; the only Messenger who was able to unite mankind into a universal brotherhood; the only one who is qualified to intercede on behalf of all believers on the Day of Judgement; and the only one to perfect the mission which started with Abraham (a.s.). 

The Message is that Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) gave to mankind theoretically and practically all that is required to function as a true representative of Allah (s.w.t.) here on the Earth.  The complete Code of life is Contained in the Qur’an which Allah (s.w.t.) Says is: 

سُوۡرَةُ النّحل

وَمَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكَ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ إِلَّا لِتُبَيِّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى ٱخۡتَلَفُواْ فِيهِ‌ۙ وَهُدً۬ى وَرَحۡمَةً۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يُؤۡمِنُونَ (٦٤) 

And We Sent down the Book to you for the express purpose that you should make clear to them those things in which they differ, and that it should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe. (Surah an-Nahl:64) 

In addition to being a Book of Guidance, the Qur’an Enlightens the believers about the mission of the Messengers who came before him, what were their difficulties and how their people deviated after receiving the guidance.  Perhaps, this is a reason why Allah (s.w.t.) Says that it is al-Furqan, the Criterion.  The highlight of the Message that the Prophet (s.a.w.) made known is the basic principle of faith which is: “No creature can ever be like the Creature”.  Everyone who desires to become a Muslim must declare belief that there is no god but Allah (s.w.t.), and Muhammad (s.a.w.) is the Messenger.  Islam recognises that each Messenger brought the same Message, of belief in Allah (s.w.t.) and the Last Day.  As a result, the Qur’an Informs us that anyone who upholds such a belief, even if he is a Jew, Christian, or connected to any other Messenger, he will have hopes of attaining Paradise.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ المَائدة

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَٱلَّذِينَ هَادُواْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِـُٔونَ وَٱلنَّصَـٰرَىٰ مَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ وَعَمِلَ صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَلَا خَوۡفٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا هُمۡ يَحۡزَنُونَ (٦٩) 

Those who believe (in the Qur’an), those who follow the Jewish (Scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians ― any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness ―on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Surah Al-Ma’idah:69) 

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) emphasised the importance of willing submission to Allah (s.w.t.), and demonstrated, in his life, how this is possible.  Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us about his ways of life in the following verses: 

سُوۡرَةُ النّجْم

مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمۡ وَمَا غَوَىٰ (٢) وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ ٱلۡهَوَىٰٓ (٣) 

Your companion is neither astray nor being misled, nor does he say (aught) of (his own) desire. (Surah an-Najm:2-3) 

Because the principles upheld by him can benefit anyone who should follow them, he is the Universal Model for all times.