Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page ix
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS vi as a prophet. He claimed to be a prophet who had been raised for the benefit of the whole of mankind, for all time. He was commanded to proclaim: ‘O mankind, verily I am Allah’s Messenger to you all’ (7:159). In studying his life, certain factors must be kept in mind. Was the world in need of a comprehensive, universal divine message? Was the life of Muhammad, before he laid claim to prophethood, of such perfect purity as would indicate that he had been chosen and was being prepared for becoming the bearer of such a message? Did the message that he purported to bring contain guidance for the whole of mankind and was it suited to all their needs? Was it illustrated in his life and conduct? Did he succeed in conv eying the message that was entrusted to him? Was he successful in initiating and in bringing about a moral and spiritual revolution in the lives of those who responded to his message? The answers to these questions would help a seeker after truth to determine whether he was truly the divine instrument chosen for the regeneration of mankind through the ages. The purpose of this volume is to institute a study of the life of Muhammad, which should be illustrative of its diverse facets and should enable the reader to carry out an assessment of the extent to which it fulfilled the purposes for which he had been di vinely appointed. All references, unless otherwise specified, are to the Holy Quran.