The second part of the
Shahadah
or the Muslim's
testimony of faith is to declare that Muhammad
[s] is the messenger of Allah. What does this declaration
really mean and why is it so important for mankind?
This declaration affirms the historical fact that Muhammad
[s], who lived in the sixth-seventh century after the Prophet
Jesus [a], was chosen by Allah to provide guidance to peo-
ple; that he was not just one in the line of Allah's prophets
chosen to guide people but that he was the last in this line
of prophets; and that his mission was for all mankind.
There will be no other prophet after Muhammad [s]
because the message or the revelation given to him - the
Qur'an
- is Divine guidance completed. There is the stated
guarantee that it will be preserved in the form it was
revealed; it will not be changed or corrupted like previous
scriptures. The
Qur'an
has been preserved just as it was
revealed. It will continue to be man's only source of authen-
tic guidance to truth and his abiding link with Reality.
To declare that Muhammad [s] is the Messenger of Allah is
to state that Islam as a system and a way of life is both a
message and a method of implementing this message.
Whereas the
Qur'an
is the final expression of Allah's mes-
sage and guidance to mankind, the life and example of
Prophet Muhammad [s] as the last prophet of Allah to
humanity represents the way or method in which Allah's
message has been and can be implemented.
We are told by 'A'ishah [r], the wife of the Holy Prophet [s],
that, "
His character was the Qur'an
." To reject the Prophet
is to reject the
Qur'an
and to reject the
Qur'an
is to reject
man's only authentic source of Divine guidance.
PT
my faith
...
ISLAM
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