The Essence of Islam – Volume I — Page 203
The Holy Prophetsa 203. Reading these two verses together, we find that the Holy. Prophet [peace and blessings of Allāh be on him] became the foremost of the Muslims because he was the most learned in the knowledge of Divine understanding. For this reason, his Islām is the highest of all and he is the foremost of the Muslims. Another verse also indicates the vastness of his knowledge as is said: وعلمك مَا لَمْ تَكُنْ تَعْلَمُ ، وَكَانَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكَ عَظِيمًا 120 (Part Number: 5). This means that: God Almighty has taught you what you could not have learnt by yourself, and by His grace you are blessed more than anyone else. . That is to say, the Holy Prophet surpassed everyone in his knowledge and understanding of the divine and God. Almighty perfumed him with the fragrance of divine understanding more than anyone else. Thus, God has appointed knowledge and understanding as the principal means of obtaining a true concept of Islām. . Though there are other means for obtaining such knowledge, like fasting, Prayer, supplication and carrying out all the Divine commandments, the number of which exceeds six hundred, yet the knowledge of the Greatness of. God and of His Unity and of His attributes of Glory and. Beauty is basic for everything. He who has a heedless heart and has no understanding of the Divine, cannot obtain the strength to observe the fast, perform Prayer, make supplication, or occupy himself with doing good. . All righteous action is incited by understanding of the 119 So am I commanded, and I am the first of those who submit. 'al-An'ām, 6:164 [Publisher] 120 al-Nisa', 4:114 [Publisher]