Muhammed in the Holy Quran By Hassan Ali El-Najjar

Islam:

God's Message of Guidance to Humanity

Muhammed

God’s Mercy to the Worlds

Peace and Blessings of Allah Be Upon him

in the Holy Quran

By Hassan Ali El-Najjar

5th of Shawwal, 1433 - 21st of September, 2012

Updated on the 6th Day of Ramadhan, 1438 - June 1st, 2017

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مُحَمَّدٌ

رَحْمَةُ اللهِ لِلْعَالَمِينَ

عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ

فِي القُرْآنِ الكَرِيمِ

تأليف حسن علي النجار

الخامس من شوال 1433 - الحادي والعشرون من سبتمبر 2012

تمت مراجعة هذا الفصل في السادس من رمضان 1438 - الأول من يونيو 2017

***

أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيم

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيم

I seek refuge with God from the Stoned Shaytan (Satan)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Introduction

For decades, there have been steady attacks and smearing campaigns on Islam, Muslims, and the Messenger of God Muhammed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (pbbuh).

The objective of these campaigns is dehumanizing Muslims and numbing non-Muslims to accept wars of aggression on Muslims to control them and subject their resources to the global powers.

So, why have anti-Islam perpetrators focused on the Messenger of Allah, Muhammed, pbbuh, in their smearing media campaigns? What does he stand for to tease them so much to the extent of targeting him with Islamophobic speeches, statements, videos, cartoons, and even unchaste displays?

The answer is clear:

Muhammed, pbbuh, is the supporter of all of those who need help, such as those who lost their freedom, the oppressed, the depressed, the wretched, the weak, the exploited, the poor, and the needy.

He supports them against their oppressors, who rob them their freedom, the usury takers, the tyrants, the aggressors, the exploiters, the corrupt, the abusers, the blood-shedders, and the ones who plot to start disputes and wars among individuals, groups, and nations.

So, the perpetrators of these anti-Islam campaigns are those who hate God's Message of justice, equality, compassion, mercy, peace, cooperation, and coexistence within and among human societies on this blessed planet of Earth.

How should Muslims react to these orchestrated anti-Islam campaigns?

Muslims should do extra efforts to educate people about Islam, as God's Message of Guidance to humanity.

Further, they should react peacefully but diligently, demanding the passing of pieces of legislation that criminalize such smearing campaigns. Then, they should take the perpetrators to courts and insist on punishing them according to the law, which will deter many others from committing such offenses.

Countries which refuse to pass such legislations, and allow their citizens to wage anti-Islam campaigns may subject their products to boycott by Muslims everywhere. This should be enough to take care of most of the problem for now.

In this Chapter, readers will be introduced to the Messenger of God Muhammed, pbbuh, through some of the verses of the Holy Quran. However, this is neither a biography nor a survey of all the verses of the Holy Quran about the Prophet, pbbuh.

A Brief Biographical Background *

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (pbbuh), was born in 570 A.D., the year ruler of Yemen Abraha attempted to demolish Al-Ka'ba, the first House of God on Earth, using his elephants, but God destroyed him, his soldiers, and his elephants outside Makkah by birds dropping little pebbles upon them, as mentioned in Chapter 105 of the Holy Quran.

The father of the Messenger of God, Abdullah, died before his wife Amina gives birth to their son. The Prophet, pbbuh, was nursed by Halima Al-Sa'adiya in the desert, in observance to an Arab tradition. The mother of the Messenger of God also died when he was six years old.

The orphan Prophet, pbbuh, was taken care of by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, who died two years later. Then, he was taken care of by his uncle, Abu Talib. During this period of his life, the Prophet was given a shepherd's task. His uncle once took him in his trade caravan to Bilad Al-Sham (The Country of Sam, or Syria now), when he was twelve years old. When the caravan reached Bussra, a monk called Bu'hayra identified the young man Muhammed, pbbuh, as a special person with a great future.

The Prophet was approached by Khadija, a wealthy and noble woman of Quraysh, to work in her trading business with Bilad Al-Sham. She offered him the job because of his good manners, honesty, and truthfulness.

Khadija ultimately decided to ask the Prophet to marry her, which he did when he was twenty-five years old, while she was forty. They had together all the children the Prophet had. These were his sons Al-Qassim, Al-Tahir, and Al-Tayyib, all of whom died as children. They also had their daughters Zaynab, Ruqayya, Um Kulthoum, and Fatima, all of whom survived, peace be to all of them. The Prophet, pbbuh, had a fourth son, Ibrahim, from his Egyptian Coptic wife, Maria, but he also died.

Ten years later, when the Prophet was thirty-five years old, there was an important event which showed how much he was highly regarded by the people of Makkah for his good manners, honesty, truthfulness, and chivalry.

While rebuilding the first House of God on Earth, Al-Ka'ba, the Quraysh tribal chiefs had a dispute over who would have the honor of putting the "Black Stone" on its place in the building of the Holy Mosque. They were about to fight each other with swords for that honor, when one of them suggested that they accept the judgment of the first person who would enter the sacred place. To their good surprise, that person turned to be Muhammed, pbbuh, who suggested that the Black Stone be placed on a gown, in order to enable all of them to lift it together. They accepted and he was the one who placed it in its right place in the building.

The Mission

During the following five years, the Prophet started to prefer seclusion and being away from the Quraysh polytheist practices and scenes. He started to go to a cave outside Makkah, Called 'Hira Cave, where he would contemplate about the Universe and its true Creator.

It is there when he had his first encounter with the Senior Angel, Jibril (Gabriel), peace be to him, when he was forty years old. Jibril started by the command "Read" (Iqra'), repeating it three times, and Muhammed, pbbuh, the illiterate, answering him three times, "I'm not a reader" meaning, "I don't know how to read." Then, Jibril proceeded with the first five Verses of the Holy Quran (96: 1-5), revealed to humanity through the Messenger of God:

أعوذُ باللهِ منَ الشيطانِ الرجيم

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ﴿١﴾ خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ﴿٢﴾ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ ﴿٣﴾ ا لَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ ﴿٥﴾ (العلق ، 96: 1-5).

I seek refuge with God from the Stoned Shaytan (Satan)

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Read, in the name of your Lord who created, (1)

Created the human being from a clinging substance. (2)

Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous, (3)

Who taught by the pen, (4)

Taught the human being that which he did not know (5) (Al-'Alaq, 96: 1-5).

***

Frightened of his encounter with Jibril, the Messenger of God went home asking his wife to secure him in his bed by covering him after wrapping himself with a lot of clothing. However, Jibril still came to him in his room giving him more commands, to stand up in prayer at night, and to start his mission among people, as stated in first five verses of Surat Al-Muzzamel (Chapter 73 of the Holy Quran) and in the first seven verses of Surat Al-Muddathir (Chapter 74 of the Holy Quran).

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ ﴿١﴾ قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿٢﴾ نِّصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا ﴿٣﴾ أَوْ زِدْ عَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا ﴿٤﴾ إِنَّا سَنُلْقِي عَلَيْكَ قَوْلًا ثَقِيلًا ﴿٥﴾ (المزمل ، 73: 1-5).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

O you who wraps himself (in clothing), (1)

Stand (for prayer all) the night, except for a little - (2)

Half of it - or subtract from it a little (3)

Or add to it, and recite the Quran with measured recitation. (4)

We will cast upon you a heavy saying (5) (Al-Muzzamil, 73: 1-5).

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُدَّثِّرُ ﴿١﴾ قُمْ فَأَنذِرْ ﴿٢﴾ وَرَبَّكَ فَكَبِّرْ ﴿٣﴾ وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ ﴿٤﴾ وَالرُّجْزَ فَاهْجُرْ ﴿٥﴾ وَلَا تَمْنُن تَسْتَكْثِرُ ﴿٦﴾ وَلِرَبِّكَ فَاصْبِرْ ﴿٧﴾ (المدثر ، 74: 1-7).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

O you who covers himself (with garments), (1)

Stand and warn (2)

And glorify your Lord (3)

And purify your clothing (4)

And forsake disobedience (5)

And do not confer favor to acquire more

(do not think of your mission as a favor to God, that you guide more people to Him) (6)

And be patient with your Lord (7) (Al-Muddathir, 74: 1-7).

***

Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her, took the Messenger of God, pbbuh, to her elderly cousin, Waraqa Bin Nowfal, who was a literate Christian. After asking him several questions, Waraqa said that these were revelations by the same Angel who contacted Moussa (Moses), peace be to him. He also added that he wished if he would be alive when the Messenger of God would be persecuted by the people of Quraysh, so he would be among his supporters but he died soon after that.

***

The Messenger of God became confident about his mission. He waited for Jibril to come back and tell him what to do but there was a pause. This saddened him thinking that God had left him. Then, Jibril came back with more revelations assuring him of his mission and of God's care and support, as expressed in the following eleven verses of Surat Al-Dhu'ha and in the verses of Surat Al-Shar'h.

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَالضُّحَىٰ ﴿١﴾ وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ ﴿٢﴾ مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الْأُولَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰ ﴿٥﴾ أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَىٰ ﴿٦﴾ وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَىٰ ﴿٧﴾ وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَىٰ ﴿٨﴾ فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ ﴿٩﴾ وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ ﴿١٠﴾ وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ ﴿١١﴾ (الضحى ، 93: 1-11).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

By the morning brightness (1)

And (by) the night when it covers with darkness, (2)

Your Lord has not taken leave of you, nor has He detested (you, O Muhammed). (3)

And the Hereafter is better for you than the first (life). (4)

And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied. (5)

Did He not find you an orphan and give (you) refuge? (6)

And He found you lost and guided (you), (7)

And He found you poor and made (you) self-sufficient. (8)

So as for the orphan, do not oppress (him or her). (9)

And as for the petitioner, do not repel (him or her). (10)

And as for the favor of your Lord, talk about (it). (11) (Al-Dhu'ha, 93: 1-11).

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

أَلَمْ نَشْرَحْ لَكَ صَدْرَكَ ﴿١﴾ وَوَضَعْنَا عَنكَ وِزْرَكَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِي أَنقَضَ ظَهْرَكَ ﴿٣﴾ وَرَفَعْنَا لَكَ ذِكْرَكَ ﴿٤﴾ فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٦﴾ فَإِذَا فَرَغْتَ فَانصَبْ ﴿٧﴾ وَإِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ فَارْغَب ﴿٨﴾ (الشرح ، 94: 1-8).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Did We not expand for you, (O Muhammad), your chest (and filled it with the light of faith)? (1)

And We removed from you your burden (2)

Which had weighed upon your back (3)

And raised high for you your reputation. (4)

For indeed, with hardship (will be) ease. (5)

Indeed, with hardship (will be) ease. (6)

So when you have finished (your duties), then stand up (for worship). (7)

And to your Lord direct (your) longing. (8) (Al-Shar'h, 94: 1-8).

Verses in the Holy Quran Praising the Messenger of God, Muhammed, pbbuh, and the Believers

Allah, praise to Him in His Highness, has decided that His Message of Guidance, to His intelligent creations of humans and Jinn, be delivered in the Holy Quran. He has chosen Muhammed, pbbuh, to be His final human Messenger, giving him the honor of delivering the Message not only to human inhabitants of the Earth but also to inhabitants of the heavens and those in between. Thus, he was sent as Mercy to the Worlds, as stated in Verse 107 of Surat Al-Anbiya (Chapter 21).

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِّلْعَالَمِينَ (الأنبياء ، 21: 107).

(O Muhammad) And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the Worlds (Al-Anbiya', 21: 107).

Verses 23 and 24 of Surat Al-Shu'ara (Chapter 26) explain the meaning of the word, "Worlds," mentioned above in 21: 107, as the heavens, the Earth, and what is in between them.

قَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ وَمَا رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢٣﴾

قَالَ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا ۖ إِن كُنتُم مُّوقِنِينَ ﴿٢٤﴾ (الشعراء ، 26: 23-24).

(The) Pharaoh said, "And what is the Lord of the Worlds?" (23)

(Moussa) said (He is) the Lord of the heavens and the Earth, and what is in between them, if you are (want to be)

sure (24) (Al-Shu'ara, 26: 23-24).

Verse 29 of Surat Al-Shoura (Chapter 42) mentions that there is intelligent life in heavens as there is one on Earth and both are subjected to God's Will.

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا بَثَّ فِيهِمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ جَمْعِهِمْ إِذَا يَشَاءُ قَدِيرٌ (الشورى ، 42: 29).

And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the Earth and what He has spread in them of steppers (walkers), and He is capable of gathering them, if He wills (Al-Shoura, 42: 29).

Thus, Muhammed, pbbuh, has been chosen to deliver God's Message of Guidance to His creations everywhere, and consequently he is "Mercy" to all of them in their different Worlds. So, those who believe in the Message delivered by him will be rewarded by peace of mind in this life and by God's forgiveness of their misdeeds in the Hereafter, as stated in 2: 47.

وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَآمَنُوا بِمَا نُزِّلَ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَهُوَ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ ۙ كَفَّرَ عَنْهُمْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ وَأَصْلَحَ بَالَهُمْ (محمد ، 47: 2).

And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muhammed - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove their misdeeds (from their records) and amend their condition (Muhammed, 47: 2).

When the non-believers gave him a hard time, the Messenger of God, Muhammed, pbbuh, was comforted and assured by Allah, praise to Him, that he was a Messenger of God, on a straight path, as stated in verses 1-4 of Surat Ya Seen (Chapter 36).

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

يس ﴿١﴾ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْحَكِيمِ ﴿٢﴾ إِنَّكَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿٣﴾ عَلَىٰ صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴿٤﴾ (يس ، 36: 1-4).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Ya Seen (By the two letters of Y and S, which are used in the Holy Quran). (1)

By the Wise Quran. (2)

Indeed (O Muhammad), you are from among the (God) Messengers, (3)

(You are) on a straight path. (4) (Ya Seen, 36: 1-4).

He was also assured by Allah, praise to Him, that he would get His support, guidance, and victory, as revealed in the following verses.

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًا مُّبِينًا ﴿١﴾ لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ اللَّـهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَاطًا مُّسْتَقِيمًا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَنصُرَكَ اللَّـهُ نَصْرًا عَزِيزًا ﴿٣﴾ (الفتح ، 48: 1-3).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Indeed, We have given you, (O Muhammad), a clear victory (Al-‘Hudaybiyah agreement) (1)

That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what may follow, and complete His favor upon you, and guide you to a straight path (2)

And Allah supports you with a mighty victory. (3) (Al-Fat'h, 48: 1-3).

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا ﴿٨﴾ لِّتُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّـهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا ﴿٩﴾ (الفتح ، 48: 8-9).

We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner (8)

That you (people) may believe in Allah and His Messenger and honor and respect him (God's Messenger), and exalt Allah morning and afternoon. (9) (Al-Fat'h, 48: 8-9).

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّـهِ شَهِيدًا ﴿٢٨﴾ (الفتح ، 48: 28).

It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of the truth to make it dominant (manifest) over all religion. And Allah is sufficient as a Witness (Al-Fat'h, 48: 28).

يُرِيدُونَ أَن يُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّـهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَيَأْبَى اللَّـهُ إِلَّا أَن يُتِمَّ نُورَهُ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ (التوبة ، 9: 32).

They want to extinguish Allah's Light with their mouths, but Allah will not allow but that His Light should be completed, even though the Unbelievers may detest (it) (Al-Tawba, 9: 32).

هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ (التوبة ، 9: 33 ، الصف ، 61: 9 ، الفتح ، 48: 28).

It is He Who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, that he makes it dominant (manifest) over all religion, even though the Pagans may detest (it) (Al-Saf, 61: 9, Al-Tawba, 9: 33, Al-Fat'h, 48: 28).

"وَنُرِيدُ أَن نَّمُنَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ اسْتُضْعِفُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَنَجْعَلَهُمْ أَئِمَّةً وَنَجْعَلَهُمُ الْوَارِثِينَ" (القصص ، 28: 5) .

And We wished to be Gracious to those who were weakened (repressed) in the land, to make them leaders (in Faith) and make them heirs (Al-Qasas, 28: 5).

Verses 1-18 of Surat Al-Najm (Chapter 53 of the Holy Quran) document some details about the two times in which the Messenger of Allah, pbbuh, saw the Spirit, Jibril, peace be to him, in his natural form. The first was in Ajyad, Makkah, at the beginning of his mission and the second was near Sidratul Montaha (Cedar of Destination) in the Seventh Heaven, during his famous journey from Makkah to Al-Quds (Jerusalem) then to beyond the Seventh Heaven, known as Al-Issra Wal Mi'araj.

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

وَالنَّجْمِ إِذَا هَوَىٰ ﴿١﴾ مَا ضَلَّ صَاحِبُكُمْ وَمَا غَوَىٰ ﴿٢﴾ وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ ﴿٥﴾ ذُو مِرَّةٍ فَاسْتَوَىٰ ﴿٦﴾ وَهُوَ بِالْأُفُقِ الْأَعْلَىٰ ﴿٧﴾ ثُمَّ دَنَا فَتَدَلَّىٰ ﴿٨﴾ فَكَانَ قَابَ قَوْسَيْنِ أَوْ أَدْنَىٰ ﴿٩﴾ فَأَوْحَىٰ إِلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ مَا أَوْحَىٰ ﴿١٠﴾ مَا كَذَبَ الْفُؤَادُ مَا رَأَىٰ ﴿١١﴾ أَفَتُمَارُونَهُ عَلَىٰ مَا يَرَىٰ ﴿١٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ نَزْلَةً أُخْرَىٰ ﴿١٣﴾ عِندَ سِدْرَةِ الْمُنتَهَىٰ ﴿١٤﴾ عِندَهَا جَنَّةُ الْمَأْوَىٰ ﴿١٥﴾ إِذْ يَغْشَى السِّدْرَةَ مَا يَغْشَىٰ ﴿١٦﴾ مَا زَاغَ الْبَصَرُ وَمَا طَغَىٰ ﴿١٧﴾ لَقَدْ رَأَىٰ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِ الْكُبْرَىٰ ﴿١٨﴾ (النجم ، 53: 1-18).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

By the star when it falls fast, (1)

Your companion (Muhammad) has not strayed, nor he has erred, (2)

Nor he speaks from (his own) inclination. (3)

It is not (anything else) but a revelation revealed, (4)

Taught to him by (Jibril, who is) intense in strength - (5)

A good-looking, who showed himself (in his immense true form) (6)

While he was in the higher horizon. (7)

Then, he approached and descended (8)

And was at a distance of two bow lengths or nearer (to the Messenger). (9)

And (Allah) revealed to His Worshipper (Muhammed) what He revealed. (10)

The heart (of the Messenger) did not lie (about) what it saw. (11)

So, are you disputing with him over what he does see? (12)

And he certainly saw him (Jibril) in another descent (during his journey to Heavens) (13)

At the Cedar of Destination (14)

Near it, is the Garden of Refuge - (15)

When there comes upon the Cedar (Tree) that which comes upon (it). (16)

The sight (of the Messenger) did not swerve, nor did it transgress (its limit). (17)

He certainly saw of the greatest signs of his Lord. (18) (Al-Najm, 53: 1-18).

Hardship from Nonbelievers

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammed, pbbuh, faced a lot of hardship and persecution from non-believers, including ridicule, challenges, accusations of madness, blockading him and Muslims for three years, plotting to kill him in Makkah, and fighting him and Muslims around his city, Al-Medina.

Here are examples of the verses, which mention the hardship he experienced from non-believers, and God's support for him and for the Muslims.

وَإِذَا رَآكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلَّا هُزُوًا أَهَـٰذَا الَّذِي يَذْكُرُ آلِهَتَكُمْ وَهُم بِذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ (الأنبياء ، 21: 36).

And when those who disbelieve see you, (O Muhammad), they take you not except in ridicule, (saying), "Is this the one who insults your gods?" And they are, at the mention of the Beneficent (God), disbelievers (Al-Anbiya', 21: 36).

ق ۚ وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ ﴿١﴾

بَلْ عَجِبُوا أَن جَاءَهُم مُّنذِرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَقَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ هَـٰذَا شَيْءٌ عَجِيبٌ ﴿٢﴾ (ق ، 50: 1-2).

(By the letter) Qaf (Q) and the Honored Quran (1)

They actually wonder that there has come to them a warner from among themselves, and the disbelievers say, "This is an amazing thing" (2) (Qaf, 50: 1-2).

بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

ن ۚ وَالْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ ﴿١﴾ مَا أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍ ﴿٢﴾ وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍ ﴿٣﴾ وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ ﴿٤﴾ فَسَتُبْصِرُ وَيُبْصِرُونَ ﴿٥﴾ بِأَييِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ ﴿٦﴾ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿٧﴾ (نون ، 68: 1-7).

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

(By the letter N) Noon, (by) the pen, and (by) what they inscribe, (1)

You are not, (O Muhammad), by the favor of your Lord, a madman. (2)

And for you is a reward uninterrupted. (3)

And you are of a great moral character. (4)

So, you will see and they will see, (5)

Which of you is the afflicted (by a devil). (6)

Your Lord is most knowing of who has gone astray from His way, and He is most knowing of the (rightly) guided. (7) (Noon, 68: 1-7).

Conclusion

The Messenger of Allah, Muhammed, pbbuh, has been a target for attacks from the beginning of his mission. The perpetrators of these attacks are either ignorant of his message of mercy and guidance to humanity or arrogant oppressors of themselves and of others.

So, these attacks are not new and they are most likely to continue. Muslims have to react to these attacks by increasing their efforts to educate themselves and others about Islam, with wisdom and good teaching, as Allah, praise to Him, has instructed them.

Allah, the Creator, praise to Him, has willed that humans should have the right to choose to believe or not to believe in Him. That's why He has sent His Messengers with His message of guidance to humanity, to be good to themselves, to their families, to their societies, and to the world. These will be rewarded by happiness in this life and by everlasting happy life in the Hereafter.

Those who choose to be oppressors, tyrant, evil, and harmful to other fellow human beings are disobedient to God. They harm themselves first before they harm others. They are punished in this life by unhappiness and lack of peace of mind, and they will be punished in the Hellfire in the Hereafter.

The good news is that Muhammed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is revered and beloved by billions of Muslims, by people of true faith, and by anyone who comes to know about him, simply because God sent him as mercy to the worlds, including humanity. He has taught the Message of God, as He wanted him to teach it, and it will prevail over all other teachings, no matter how much the anti-Islam ignorant-arrogant ones try to extinguish God's Light.

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Notes:

* There are many Seerah (Prophet's biography) books, such as that of Ibn Hisham, Ibn Al-Qayim, and Ibn Katheer. For a list of these books, see:

http://www.islamport.com/isp_eBooks/ser/