Islam - Its Meaning for Modern Man — Page 123
123 being ⎯ was devoted to God in the effort to seek closer communion with Him. This is clearly affirmed by Divine testimony: “Say: ‘My prayer and my sacrifice and my life and my death are all for Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. He has no associate. So am I commanded, and I am the first of those who submit wholly to Him’” (6:163 ⎯ 164). Such was the Prophet in the eyes of man and in the estimation of God. God has proclaimed: “Allah sends down His blessings on the Prophet, and His angels constantly invoke His blessings on him; do you, O believers, also invoke Allah’s blessings on him and offer him the salutation of peace” (33:57). In obedience to this command, all through the centuries Muslims have constantly prayed for, and invoked Allah’s blessings upon, the Prophet. It is estimated that there are today over seven hundred million Muslims in different parts of the world ⎯ and the number is daily increasing ⎯ of whom at least half carry out this Divine command several times daily. An average Muslim invokes God’s blessings on the Prophet forty times during the course of each day, and many of them do it a great many more times. In fact, every time the Prophet is referred to in conversation, by name or by reference to his Prophetic office, Allah’s blessings are invoked upon him and Allah’s peace is called down upon him. Thus, having regard