God Arises
Affirmation of Prophethood
~ 269 ~
could recognize his virtues is in itself ample
evidence of being a prophet of God.
M. Abul Fazal, in his
Life of Mohammad
,
quotes Dt.
Leitner as saying: “If there be such a process as
inspiration from the source of all goodness, indeed,
I venture to state in all humility, that if self-sacrifice,
honesty of purpose, unwavering belief in one’s
mission, a marvellous insight into existing wrong or
error, and the perception and use of the best means
for their removal, are among the outward and
visible signs of inspiration, the mission of
Muhammad was ‘inspired.’”
When the Prophet began to propagate his message,
his own people began to persecute him in a variety
of ways. On one occasion his path was strewn with
thorns. On another he was pelted with filth when
saying his prayers. Once, when he was in prayer at
the Kabah, Uqbah ibn Abi Muayt, a dire opponent
of the Prophet, twined a sheet so tightly round his
neck that he fell down in a swoon. When torment
upon torment failed to deter him from his resolve,
the Makkans imposed a social boycott upon him
and all the members of his family, who were then
