Elucidation of Objectives — Page 14
Tau di h-e-Mar a m 14 reasoning, cannot be of any use to Isl a m. They will only add to the already existing heap of baseless objections or create unnecessary confusion. Now let us turn to our Holy Master and Mentor—the Holy Prophet Muhammad sa , the Seal and Certificate of all Prophets. In order to single out the second Messiah from the first, the Holy Prophet sa did not merely an- nounce that the former would be a Muslim by faith; that he would conduct himself in accordance with the Quranic Law; that he would pray and fast and carry out other Quranic injunctions like a Muslim; that he would be a born Muslim; that he wouldn't bring any new Law; and that he would not claim to be an independent Prophet. In addition to all this, the Holy Prophet sa also disclosed that there would be a marked difference between the physical features of the two Messiahs. The Holy Prophet sa saw the first Messiah on the night of the Mi‘r a j 21. According to a tradition mentioned in S a hih Bukh a r i, page 489 , the Holy Prophet sa described him as of medium height, reddish complexion, curly hair, and a broad chest 22. But, in the same book, the Holy Prophet sa is reported to have described the second 21 The spiritual ascention of the Holy Prophet sa to the Heavens—a unique Vision of exceptional quality the like of which was experienced by no prophet. [Translator] 22 S a h i h Bukh a r i , Kit a bul Anbiy a , Babu "Qaulill a h Ta‘l a 'Wadhkur fil Kit a bi Maryama…' ", H adith No. 3437, 3438, published by D a rus Sal a m, Riy ad , 1997. [Translator]