A Critique of Professor Arnold G. Toynbee’s Understanding — Page 16
16 Holy Prophet’s Temporal Power In view of the Holy Prophet’s exalted status and elevated position and purpose for which he was raised, it is important to understand that although prophethood and kingship are to many Christians two very different offices, the Holy Prophet was bestowed th e office of kingship for a very special purpose. His elevated position and status of a Perfect Prophet, and his being the Seal of the Prophets meant that Allah wanted him to be an example and a practical guide for every aspect of human life and for every s ector of humanity. The words of God: Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model. . . (Holy Quran, 33:22) Meant that Allah had placed upon him the responsibility of providing a practical example for every aspect of human life. It was for this reason that he had to pass through all possible phases of human life. And in each phase he provided an excellent and complete example for all mankind for all t ime to come. “Muhammad achieved an extraordinary political success and Christians tend to see such worldly triumph as of questionable godliness; but is a Christ like failure the only way to God?” ( Karen Armstrong - Muhammad. - A Biography of the Holy Prophet. Page 15 ). The Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad says in this context: