God Arises
Affirmation of Prophethood
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hypothesis, observation, verification. First of all, an
idea, or hypothesis, takes shape in the mind, then it
is subjected to observation and when observation
testifies to it, the hypothesis comes to be recognised
as an established fact.
According to this system, the claim of prophethood
by Muhammad is now before us as a ‘hypothesis’,
and we have to see whether observation confirms it
or not. If observation speaks in its favour, this
hypothesis will acquire the status of a verified fact
and we shall have, perforce, to accept it.
Let us see what observations are required in order
to testify to the ‘hypothetical’ claims of the Prophet.
In other words, what are the external manifestations
in the light of which it may be determined that he
really was a messenger of God? What are those
qualities which come together in the personality of
such a messenger, the presence of which cannot be
explained except in terms of his being a prophet of
God? One who claims to be such must, of necessity,
be in possession of two special qualities.
Firstly, he must be an absolutely ideal man. One
who is selected from all mankind to have a special
