Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
14. The Termination of Prophethood
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personality that springs to mind, one who has been
a subject of discussion for generation upon
generation over the last 1500 years. If this history
were to be taken away from the Prophet of Islam, he
would return to being “Ibn Abi Kabshah” in the
eyes of men. Were this to happen, there is not a
shadow of a doubt that the number of Muslims in
the world today would be counted in scores rather
than in hundreds of millions. It is very difficult to
recognize a prophet of God when he comes in the
guise of ‘Ibn Abi Kabshah’. On the other hand, to
accept one who has become an established historical
personality is relatively easy. The Prophet of Islam
has now secured what the Qur’an calls a “position
of praise and glory.”
1
Small wonder, then, that
those who sing his praises run into thousands of
millions.
It was this factor, which contributed more than
anything to the denial of prophets by their peoples
in previous ages. “This is just an ordinary person,”
people would say. “Up till now we knew him by his
common name. How did he become a prophet of
God all of a sudden?” “Whenever a prophet comes
among his people, this objection is raised, posing a
