God Arises
Affirmation of Prophethood
~ 277 ~
of his companions, asked the Prophet’s wives how
they survived with food in such short supply, they
answered that their diet consisted of dates and
water. At times the Ansars (Madinan neo-converts)
would send them some milk. It seldom happened
that the Prophet’s family had enough wheat in store
to last out three days in succession. When the
Prophet finally left this world, the material
conditions of his life were in no way better.
In spite of having access to all power, he passed his
life in this state and left nothing behind him for his
family. Neither did he leave a will. All he left
behind him was the simple dictum: “We prophets
have no heirs, whatever we leave behind is to be
given in alms,” These were the words of the
founder of the world’s greatest empire, knowing
fully well that it was soon to annex Asia and Africa
and cross the borders of Europe.
These glimpses of his words and character, of his
sincerity and self-sacrifice are not trifling
exceptions. His whole life was lived out in this way.
It will hardly be surprising then if we accept such
an extraordinary man to have been a messenger of
