Heartiest congratulations to you all on the auspicious occasion of the blessed birthday of the Messenger of Mercy, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA).
On the occasion of the historic 17th of Rabi al-Awwal we present you an interesting article on the Almighty’s Last and Greatest Messenger to mankind as follows:
He was born in Mecca in the monotheist Hashemite clan descended from Prophet Abraham through his firstborn son, Prophet Ishmael. The year of his birth saw the miraculous event of the destruction of the elephantine horde of Abraha, the Christian Abyssinian governor of Yemen, who had marched upon Mecca to destroy the holy Ka’ba. God, however, sent a flock of little birds with pebbles in their beaks and claws to pelt the mighty army and turn men and elephants into something like chewed straw. The year is known as Aam al-Feel or the Year of the Elephant. Over the past few days we have presented you other events relating to the birth of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), his upbringing, and the state of the world before the advent of Islam. Today, as part of our efforts to enlighten you with the fact that God had entrusted Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) with the most perfect and universal creed that preaches fraternity and was predicted by the Prophets of the past, we will shed light on the coming of this Greatest ever man and his mission in the previously revealed heavenly scriptures.
It is now clear that both Judaism and Christianity had completed their historical missions, for the process of abrogation and perfection is a natural matter with respect to the divine laws. In addition to that, both religions had been distorted and tampered with. Islam thus dawned as foretold by the Prophets Abraham), Moses, Jesus, and all others all over the globe. Humanity was waiting for the advent of a new prophet. The Torah and the Evangel have mentioned the characteristics of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), the place of his appearance and his message. A great number of Jewish and Christian religious scholars, at the time, embraced Islam, and believed in the Prophet, because they found his name and attributes in their scriptures. The Qur'an drew their attention to this fact in ayah 157 of Surah A’raaf:
"...the Prophet, the Ummi, whom they find written down with them in the Torah and Evangel..."
A prophecy mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 21, verses 13-17, says:
'This is a message about Arabia. You people of Dedan, whose caravans camp in the barren country of Arabia, give water to the thirsty people who come to you. You people of the land of Tema, give food to the refugees. People are fleeing to escape from swords that are ready to kill them, from bows that are ready to shoot, from all the dangers of wars.' Then the Lord of Kedar will be at an end. The bow-men are the bravest men of Kedar, but few of them will be left.”
"And when Jesus son of Mary said: O Children of Israel! Surely I am the Apostle of Allah to you, verifying that which was (revealed) before me of the Torah, and giving the glad tidings of an Apostle who will come after me, whose name is Ahmad..."
This is what the holy Qur'an says in ayah 6 of Surah Saff while recalling the prophecy of the Son of Mary. It is obvious that the Gospel of Jesus brought into sharper focus the identity of the one who would fulfill the promise to make the line of Ishmael a great nation. In the Gospel of John, chapter one, verses 19 to 21 and 25 say about John the Baptist or Prophet Yahya.
"And this is the record of John (the Baptist) when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, who art thou?
And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed I am not the Messiah.
And they asked him, "what then? Art thou Elias?" And he said: "I am not." "Art thou That Prophet?" And he answered, "No."
And they asked him, and said unto him, "why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Messiah, nor Elias, neither That Prophet."
It is clear from these words, the people were eagerly awaiting the coming of the Last and Greatest Prophet even during the times of Prophet Jesus and John the Baptist.
In the Gospel of John, Chapter 14, verses 15, 16 , 26 and 30 we read from Prophet Jesus (PBUH):
"If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray to the Father and He shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
And again in the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, verse 26 quotes Prophet Jesus as saying:
"But when the Comforter is come, whom I shall send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me."
Also the next Chapter of the Gospel of John, that is, chapter 17, verses 7 to 14, Jesus is quoted to have said:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you.
And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Of judgment because the prince of this world is judged,
I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you."
A careful study of these passages brings to light the following facts:
Jesus prophesies the coming of a Comforter after him. The coming of the Comforter depends on the Messiah’s departure. He is sent by Almighty Allah. He will teach everything. He will draw attention towards what the Messiah had foretold. He will testify and glorify Jesus the Messiah. He will not speak by himself but what he divinely hears. He will foretell future events. The world will follow his religion. He will stay forever.
In view of these glaring facts if we cast a glimpse at the life of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) we will discover the amazing truth that these points perfectly tally with his mission and confirm beyond doubt that he is the Comforter Promised by Jesus. The exact word used by Jesus in his native language was “Hmda”, which is “Ahmad” in Arabic, and which has been translated in Greek as Paraclete, and into English as Comforter, although the exact meaning of the word is “the most praiseworthy”, or Mohammad (SAWA). Thus, Islam is the message of peace and peaceful coexistence and for this reason Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) preached universal brotherhood. He set the practical example in this regard by declaring fraternal bonds between the Ansars or the Helpers of Medina, and the Muhajirs or Migrants of Mecca in order to solidify the Islamic Ummah. He himself hailed his dear ward, cousin, son-in-law, and divinely decreed vicegerent, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS), as “my brother”.
Here we present you a piece of poetry on the birthday of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) by Iran’s English language poet, Dr. Hassan Najafi:
A boy is born today
For a morrow in glory to sway,
Muhammad of universal fame,
Jesus foretold him Ahmad’s name.
"Hmda" in Hebrew Moses prophesied,
Noah and Abraham also his name specified,
Born to change the destiny of the world,
To make prevail everywhere God's word,
Islam the global mission entrusted to him,
Jahiliyya will vanish and all its ignorant whim,
His birth made idols headlong fall.
A sudden crack in Ctesisphon's arch stupefied all,
The sacred fire of the Zoroastrians extinguished,
As monotheism became distinguished,
Crashed down at Khosrow's palace fourteen parapets
To herald the advent of equal number of Immaculates,
Though orphaned but will be eternally victorous,
The Son of Abdullah will forever be glorious,
Brought up by Uncle Abu Taleb, the guardian,
Repaid favour by proclaming Ali Islam's custodian,
This was the Messenger of Mercy,
He came to stamp out heresy,
I salute him with a ftting salutation
He and his progeny are keys to my salvation
O Prophet of Peace, welcome to my ravaged grave
Here reposes a poet enamoured of your love.
