Muhammad a Prophet For all Humanity
14. The Termination of Prophethood
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miracles. The Prophet, too, would have liked to
have been able to produce miraculous signs of his
prophethood. But it was not to be. Instead, the
Prophet’s character and demeanour had to take the
place of miracles. The Prophet’s opponents were not
visited by any celestial or terrestrial punishment
from God, as had been the case with those who
denied the prophets of old. The Prophet and his
companions had themselves to do what
earthquakes and volcanoes had previously been
used for—punish the disbelievers. The Book of God
was not revealed all at once; the period of revelation
extended over twenty-three years. During this time
the Muslims, under the leadership of the Prophet,
had to cross all the deep rivers and climb every high
mountain of life, so that the path, which God
desired His servants to follow, could be fully
mapped out.
The trials, which the Prophet and his companions
underwent during this, period, reached a height of
intensity called in the Qur’an “a tremendous
shaking.”
9
The Prophet was given the immensely
arduous directive not to compromise in any way
with his oppressors.
10
However difficult the
