Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and the office of Prophethood

 

Prophet Muhammad and the office of Prophethood

(Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

 

We should think about what the intent behind sending Prophets to us is and whether that intent has been fulfilled with the sending of that particular Prophet.  Now everything has 2 aspects:

 

The external aspect which is found in it

 

The capability which is granted at birth and is kept safe like a trust and is expressed after one draws benefit from the company of an accomplished master

 

The lamp had a different look before being lighted.  After being lit, it has a different look.  The first look is the one granted at birth.  The look of capability was revealed after being lit.  However, to express this capability fire was needed.  Fire drew near and drawing benefit from it, the lamp become luminous.

 

A stone which is used alike in houses and lavatories, when it draws benefit from the sun it is turned into a precious stone and is now placed in the crowns of kings.  Then it is given the title of Kohinoor.  Thus, without the company of an accomplished one, one’s capabilities are not expressed (fully).

 

In the same way, there are people who have capabilities which remain unexpressed.  Thus, Allah Most High sends Prophets and through their company, those capabilities are expressed.  This is why Prophets are sent.

 

Now what remains to be seen is that whether this is found in that particular Prophet or not.  It is clearly seen that those people whose capabilities were not being expressed, when they had the company of the Prophet, those who were the lowest of the low became the highest of the high.

 

Today, there is no one on the face of the earth who is more worshipful than them, no one receives guests as they do, no one is more generous than they are and no one is braver than them.  The attributes of these folks have crossed the realm of human beings and have reached the realm of the angels.

 

The intent was fulfilled with the sending of that particular Prophet.  Thus, believing in him as the Prophet is also necessary.  In fact, the way this intent was fulfilled by this Prophet, it was not fulfilled to that extent by anyone else.  Let us understand this with an example.

 

Wheat is sown by someone else.  Someone else reaps it.  Then someone else grinds it (into flour).  Then someone else kneads it.  Then someone else places the frying pan on the stove and makes a roti out of it.  Thus, this affair is concluded at the hands of this person.

 

Similarly, the seed of religion was sown with Hadhrat Adam (May peace be upon him).  After this every Prophet worked on it.

 

Then Hadhrat ‘Isa (May peace be upon him) kneaded it.

 

At last, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) lit the fire of love and religion was culminated.

 

Akmaltu lakum

 

After, Prophet ‘Isa (May peace be upon him), no other prophet had come.  Because of this, people had become as if stricken with drought.  Those drought-stricken people gave their lives and wealth and bought that roti.

 

Thousands of nations gave up their lives for the sake of that roti.

 

Kuntun khairakum

 

How lucky are we  to get that roti all finished and ready!

 

 

What to say!  What wine was it that You poured down the throats of the intoxicated

It was the wine of love that You poured in the cup of the soul

 

Chalices and goblets don’t hold this wine

It is divine love which was poured into the chalices of Moosa and ‘Imran

 

This is the wine of Tauheed – not a drop is given to the kings

Thousands of cups are poured down the throats of the paupers

 

When the intent of Prophethood was fulfilled to its utmost extent with this Prophet, then why do you wonder?

 

[To be continued…]

[Excerpted from Milaadnama of Hadhrat Muhaddith-e-Deccan]