Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
9. The Prophetic Method
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Say: “I was commanded to be the first to
submit to Him.”
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As far as its motivation is concerned, becoming the
“first to submit to God” is an entirely individual
affair. But in its consequences this act has far-
reaching implications for the whole of society. A
volcanic eruption starts within a mountain,
invisible from the eyes of humankind. But when
the eruption takes place, it illuminates the whole
surrounding area with its glow. So it is with those
who first submit to God. The transformation that
occurs within them has repercussions on their
entire environment. The same sequence can be
found in the revelation of the Qur’an. The first
verse to be revealed were those dealing with
personal reform. Later came the chapters dealing
with improvement of society at large. Comparing
this sequence with the method adopted by the
Prophet of Islam, Muhammad Marmaduke
Pickthall, in the introduction to his translation of
the Qur’an, writes:
The inspiration of the Prophet progressed
from inward things to outward things.
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