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5. Another sign through which a Prophet was recognized is the fact that they advertised religion and Divine worship by means of prayers, almsgiving, and chastity. Khadijah and Abu Bakr took that (conduct) as proof of Muhammad’s truthfulness (peace be upon him). They did not need any other proof of his mission beyond his conduct and character. According to the sound tradition (Sahih), when Heraclius received the Prophet’s letter in which he was invited to Islam, he asked Abu Sufyan (who was visiting that area), about the things that our Holy Prophet

commanded them to do. Abu Sufyan’s replied: “Prayers, almsgiving, gifts and charity”. Similar replies were given to all other questions that Heraclius asked. Heraclius’s finally commented: “ If it is a reality as you say, he is definitely a Prophet and he will take possession of this very ground on which I am standing”. The ‘chastity’ to which Heraclius referred is ‘Ismah’ (i.e. immunity from sin, error, infallibility). It is worth noting that Heraclius considered Ismah and propaganda for religion and Divine worship as proofs of the genuineness of the Prophet’s mission, and did not require a miracle. These qualities are, therefore, the signs of prophecy.

6. Another sign by which the Prophets could be recognized is the fact that they enjoyed prestige amongst their people. According to (the sound tradition of) the Sahih, Allah sent no Prophet who did not enjoy the protection of his people. Again, according to (the sound tradition of) the Sahih, Abu Sufyan replied to Heraclius question concerning Muhammad (peace be upon him)’s standing among the Qureshites, that he had prestige among their people. That means that he had a group feeling and influence which protected him from harm at the hands of the unbelievers, until he had delivered the message of his Lord.

7. Another sign by which the Prophets were recognized is the fact that they showed wonders or miracles which attested their truthfulness. The miracles are actions that cannot be performed by other human beings. The Prophet used the miracles as proof of the truth of his mission.

8. Now it should be known that the Holy Quran which was revealed to our Holy Prophet

is the greatest, noblest and clearest miracle. The wonders, as a rule, were performed separately and apart from the revelation he received. The miracle comes as evidence for it’s truthfulness. Al-Quran, on the other hand, is in itself the claimed revelation. It is itself the wondrous miracle. It is its own proof. It requires no outside proof, as do the other wonders performed in connection with revelations. Al-Quran is the clearest proof that can ever be, since it unites in itself both the proof and what is to be proved. This is the meaning of our Holy Prophet’s

statement, “ Every Prophet was given signs likely to provide reassurance for mankind. What I have been given is a revelation (whose every Verse is a miracle) that has been revealed to me. Therefore, I hope to have the greatest number of followers on the Day of Resurrection.” He referred to the fact that a miracle which is identical with the revelation (confirmed by it), is of such a clarity and force of evidence that it will be found truthful, because of its clarity, by the greatest number of people.

9. The above indicates that Al-Quran is alone among the Divine Books that our Holy Prophet

received it directly in the words and phrases in which it appears. In this respect, it differs from the Torah, the Gospel, and other heavenly books, which the other Prophets received in the form of ideas during the state of revelation. After return to the human state, they expressed those ideas in their own words. Therefore, those books do not have ‘inimitability’. Inimitability is restricted to the Holy Quran. The other Prophets received books in a manner similar to that in which our Prophet received (certain) ideas that he attributed to Allah, such as are found in many traditions (i.e. Ahaadith). The fact that he received the Quran directly in its literal form, is attested by the following the following Verse of the Holy Quran:

"Do not set your tongue (Holy Prophet) in motion so as to learn

it hurriedly (i.e. the revelation of Al-Quran). Indeed, is up to Us to

keep (preserve) and recite it (to you).” (75:16,17)

The reason for so hurriedly catching the revelations was that the Holy Prophet feared that he might forget them, and because he wished to keep the directly and literally revealed text in his memory. Almighty Allah guaranteed him that He (Himself) would keep (preserve) it, as mentioned in the following Verse:

"Indeed, We have revealed the Reminder (Al-Quran), and We are

keeping (preserving) it” (15:9)

10. Our Holy Prophet

wrought no greater miracle than Al-Quran and the fact that he united the Arabs in his mission. The Holy Quran states:

"If you had expended all the treasures of earth, you would have

achieved no unity among them. But Allah produced unity among

them.”

The above evidence also indicates the superiority of our Holy Prophet

on other Prophets.

As indicated above under the background of the above Verses 3:79, 80 being discussed that the Christians declared Prophet Jesus as God or one of three Gods. These Verses categorically reject their belief by indicating that no Prophet could ever dare to enslave the people, ordering them to declare him as God and accept his authority and the laws by setting aside the Commandments of Allah.. This, in fact, then would have been a great allegation against the Prophets. This further indicates that there is no monarchy, kingship, lordship or enslavement of people in Islam. The man made laws can not be enforced upon the people in an Islamic State for usurping their rights by setting aside the Commandments of Allah. It is interesting to quote here from the Muqaddamah of Ibn Khaldun about the man made laws:

1. The Governmental (or man made) laws destroy the fortitude of the people, because their restraining influence is something that comes from outside. The religious laws (i.e. the Commandments of Allah), on the other hand, do not destroy fortitude, because their restraining influence is inherent (i.e. comes from inside). The governmental laws, therefore, weaken the souls of the people and diminish their stamina.

2. The Companions of the Holy Prophet

observed the religious laws (i.e. the Commandments of Allah) and yet did not experience any diminution of their fortitude, but possessed the greatest possible fortitude. When the Muslims got their religion from the Lawgiver (Muhammad - peace be upon him), the restraining influence came from themselves, as a result of the encouragement and discouragement that he gave them through Al-Quran. It was not a result of technical instruction or scientific education. They received the Divine Laws orally from the Holy Prophet so that these were firmly rooted in their belief, as the articles of faith, which caused them to observe truthfully. Their fortitude remained unabated, and it was not corroded by education or authority.

Umar said: “ Those, who are educated (disciplined) by the

religious laws (professionally) are not educated (disciplined) by Allah.

This statement expresses Umar’s desire that every one should have his

restraining influence in himself. This also his expresses his certainty

that the Lawgiver (Muhammad - peace be upon him) knew best

what is good for mankind.”

3. The influence of religion, then, decreased among the people, and they came to use restraining laws through education and authority. The religious law became a branch of learning and a craft to be acquired through instruction and education. This assumed the character trait of submissiveness to law, which diminished their fortitude.

4. When laws are enforced by means of punishment, they completely destroy fortitude, because the use of punishment against some one, who can not defend himself, generates in that person a feeling of humiliation that, undoubtedly, must break his fortitude.