The Message of Islam — Page 18
18 self-examination, in reflecting on the problems that troubled him, and in prayer and supplication to God. There is no record of the struggle that went on in his soul during this period of retreat. In the nature of things, it is not granted to any of us to probe into the depths of another’s soul, to appraise accurately and completely its travail and its ecstasies. This is a holy secret between each individ- ual and his Maker. Those years were, however, years of preparation, when Muhammad’s soul was being deepened and proved and made ready for the heavy responsibility that the Divine will had decreed should be placed on him. Concerning Moses as, it is said in the Quran: ۬ َّمُث َتْئِج ىٰلَع ٍرَدَق ىٰسْوُمّٰيَو َكُتْعَنَطْصا ْيِسْفَنِل…ۚ ُتْيَقْلَا َكْيَلَع ًةَّبَحَم ْيِّنِّم١ۚ۬ َو َعَنْصُتِل ىٰلَع ْيِنْيَعۘ … َو َكّٰنَتَف اًنْوُتُف١۫۬ … …I wrapped thee with love from Me, and this I did that thou mightst be reared before My eye… We proved thee in various ways. Then thou camest up to the standard, O Moses, and I chose Thee for Myself. ( Surah Taa Haa, 20:40–42) As with Moses as, so with Muhammad saw. He is reminded of this in the Quran: ْمَلَا َكْدِجَي اًمْيِتَي ىٰوٰاَف َو َكَدَجَو اًّلٓاَض ىٰدَهَف َ۪و َكَدَجَو اًلِٕىٓاَع ىٰنْغَاَفؕ Did He not find thee an orphan and take thee under His protection? Did He not find thee perplexed in search of Him and guide thee unto Himself ? Did He not find