In order to describe hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to non-Muslim colleagues, friends, and co-workers, several aspects of hajj should be explained to them.
Meaning of Hajj
Hajj is to go to Makkah at a certain time to do certain rituals and services.
It is such an essential part of Islam, that it is described as being the fifth of the pillars of Islam.
Muslims who are physically and financially capable of doing it should do it once in their lifetimes.
Describe Hajj Rituals
Hajj includes several actions to be done in Makkah as well as three other places bordering the city of Makkah; Mena, Arafah, and Muzdalifah.
Hajj starts by getting to the state of Ihram (state of consecration), where the pilgrim is restricted from doing certain things like wearing regular clothes, having hair cut, clipping nails, using perfumes, having any marital intimate relation, hunting, cutting trees, as well as some other restrictions.
Actions of hajj also include staying for almost 24 hours in Mena on the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah (the last month in the Islamic calendar) before leaving to Arafah the next day to do the most important part of hajj: staying all day at Arafah.
Pilgrims then move from Arafah to Muzdalifah to spend that night there before leaving in the following morning to Mena.
On the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims offer a sacrificial animal like a goat for Allah (God), shave or trim their hair, throw seven pebbles at a station there in Mena, before they get to Makkah to go around the Kabah seven times and then walk between two hills there by the names of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah.
By doing this, pilgrims get out of the state of Ihram completely and the restrictions mentioned earlier are then over.
On the following three days pilgrims stay at Mena to throw pebbles at three different stations there.
They throw seven pebbles at each of the three stations and repeat that on the following two days. This is a total of 63 pebbles on these three days plus seven pebbles already thrown on the tenth of Dhul-Hijjah. So the overall number they throw is 70 pebbles.
Then, before leaving Makkah, pilgrims go around the Kaabah seven times as a farewell ceremony.
Spirituality of Hajj
As a matter of fact, hajj is not only about visiting some holy lands to do some rituals. It is much more than a physical movement.
It is the journey of life and a virtual simulation of the journey to the next life.
Pilgrims travel, leaving behind their loved ones. The males replace their regular clothes with a couple of very simple unsewn sheets to wrap around their bodies after taking a shower.
This is a simulation for washing the deceased body and shrouding it before the burial. Women wear simple clothes.
Millions of people gather in Makkah, Mena, Arafah, and Muzdalifah wearing the same, looking the same, doing the same, and behaving the same. It is a simulation of the great gathering of all people after resurrection on the Day of Judgment.
Present, Past & Future
Hajj also clearly connects the present to both the past and the future in a marvelous way. Pilgrims do hajj following the footsteps of prophetsMuhammad,Abraham, andIsmail(peace be on them).
In many of its actions, they commemorate the story of Hajar (Prophet Abraham’s wife) when she jogged between the two hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah in search for water for her baby Ismail.
They drink from Zamzam Well and remember how this blessed well miraculously gushed out in the middle of the desert under the feet of the baby Ismail.
Pilgrims circle the Kabah and remember Prophet Abraham. It was he who raised the building of the Kabah along with Prophet Ismail by the order of Allah. He was also ordered to announce hajj for all people throughout the ages:
{And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you…} (Al-Hajj 22:27)
In this way, pilgrims are connected to the past by honoring the story of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Certain pillars are to be thrown with pebbles as a symbol of defeating the devil.
Argumentation, useless talk, foul language, as well as intimate marital relations are not allowed during hajj. This ruling speaks to being in full control of the desires of the self.
In this way, hajj relates to the future by resetting the mindsets and consciousness of pilgrims to the original state of purity that they were created in. Unity, equality, universality, unity of purpose, togetherness, selflessness, humbleness, and sharing, as well as so many other qualities are learned by practice during hajj.
Spiritual Transformation
Spiritual transformation is one of the key purposes of hajj. It is referred to by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when he said:
“Whoever performs hajj (pilgrimage) and does not have sexual relation with his spouse), nor commits sin, nor disputes unjustly (during hajj), then he returns from Hajj as pure and free from sins as on the day on which his mother gave birth to him.” (Al-Bukhari)
Spiritual transformation through hajj was clear in the life of Malcolm X, who has been described as one of the greatest and most influential African Americans in history.
In his famous ‘Letter from Mecca’, he wrote that the white people he met during his pilgrimage forced him to “rearrange” his thinking about race and “toss aside some of [his] previous conclusions”.
Conclusion
In conclusion, hajj is a pillar of Islam where pilgrims experience many things that can be found only through such a unique journey.
It is a salvation of this life that leads to salvation of the next life.
Prophet Ibrahim was one of the highest messengers of Allah (SWT). He was such a great man that Allah (SWT) tested him again and again and he passed every single test. He later became a very close friend to Allah (SWT). Here is a wonderful account of Prophet Ibrahim’s life story told in this video! - aboutislam.net
Salahis the daily ritual prayer enjoined upon all Muslims as one of the five Pillars of Islam. It is performed five times a day by all Muslims. Salahis a precise worship, different from praying on the inspiration of the moment. Muslims pray or, perhaps more correctly, worship five times throughout the day:
·Between first light and sunrise.
·After the sun has passed the middle of the sky.
·Between mid-afternoon and sunset.
·Between sunset and the last light of the day.
·Between darkness and midnight.
Abdullahi Haji-Mohamed kneels during evening prayers while waiting for fares at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, May 4, 2005. (AP Photo/The Plain Dealer, Gus Chan)
Each prayer may take at least 5 minutes, but it may be lengthened as a person wishes. Muslims can pray in any clean environment, alone or together, in a mosque or at home, at work or on the road, indoors or out. Under special circumstances, such as illness, journey, or war, certain allowances in the prayers are given to make their offering easy.
Having specific times each day to be close to God helps Muslims remain aware of the importance of their faith, and the role it plays in every part of life. Muslims start their day by cleaning themselves and then standing before their Lord in prayer. The prayers consist of recitations from the Quran in Arabic and a sequence of movements: standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. All recitations and movements express submission, humility, and homage to God. The various postures Muslims assume during their prayers capture the spirit of submission; the words remind them of their commitments to God. The prayer also reminds one of belief in the Day of Judgment and of the fact that one has to appear before his or her Creator and give an account of their entire life. This is how a Muslim starts their day. In the course of the day, Muslims dissociate themselves from their worldly engagements for a few moments and stand before God. This brings to mind once again the real purpose of life.
These prayers serve as a constant reminder throughout the day to help keep believers mindful of God in the daily stress of work, family, and distractions of life. Prayer strengthens faith, dependence on God, and puts daily life within the perspective of life to come after death and the last judgment. As they prepare to pray, Muslims face Mecca, the holy city that houses the Kaaba (the ancient place of worship built by Abraham and his son Ishmael). At the end of the prayer, the shahada (testimony of faith) is recited, and the greeting of peace, "Peace be upon all of you and the mercy and blessings of God," is repeated twice.
Though individual performance of salah is permissible, collective worship in the mosque has special merit and Muslims are encouraged to perform certain salah with others. With their faces turned in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, the worshipers align themselves in parallel rows behind the imam, or prayer leader, who directs them as they execute the physical postures coupled with Quran recitations. In many Muslim countries, the "call to prayer," or ‘Adhan,’ echo out across the rooftops. Aided by a megaphone the muezzin calls out:
Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest),
Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest),
Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest),
Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest),
Ash-hadu an-laa ilaaha il-lal-lah (I witness that none deserves worship except God).
Ash-hadu an-laa ilaaha il-lal-lah (I witness that none deserves worship except God).
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasool-ullah (I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God).
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasool-ullah (I witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God).
Hayya ‘alas-Salah (Come to prayer!)
Hayya ‘alas-Salah (Come to prayer!)
Hayya ‘alal-Falah (Come to prosperity!)
Hayya ‘alal-Falah (Come to prosperity!)
Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest),
Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest),
La ilaaha il-lal-lah (None deserves worship except God).
Men are joined by some of the students from the Noor-ul-Iman School for afternoon prayer at the Islamic Society of New Jersey, a mosque in suburban South Brunswick, N.J., Tuesday, May 13, 2003. Many Muslims communities across the United States are spreading out from the cities to the suburbs. (AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer)
Friday is the weekly day of communal worship in Islam. The weekly convened Friday Prayer is the most important service. The Friday Prayer is marked by the following features:
·It falls in the same time as the noon prayer which it replaces.
·It must be performed in a congregation led by a prayer leader, an ‘Imam.’ It can not be offered individually. Muslims in the West try to arrange their schedules to allow them time to attend the prayer.
·Rather than a day of rest like the Sabbath, Friday is a day of devotion and extra worship. A Muslim is allowed normal work on Friday as on any other day of the week. They may proceed with their usual activities, but they must break for the Friday prayer. After the worship is over, they can resume their mundane activities.
·Typically, the Friday Prayer is performed in a mosque, if available. Sometimes, due to unavailability of a mosque, it may be offered at a rented facility, park, etc.
·When the time for prayer comes, the Adhan is pronounced. The Imam then stands facing the audience and delivers his sermon (known as khutba in Arabic), an essential part of the service of which its attendance is required. While the Imam is talking, everyone present listens to the sermon quietly till the end. Most Imams in the West will deliver the sermon in English, but some deliver it in Arabic. Those who deliver it in Arabic usually deliver a short speech in the local language before the service.
·There are two sermons delivered, one distinguished from the other by a brief sitting of the Imam. The sermon is commenced with words of praise of God and prayers of blessing for Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him.
·After the sermon, the prayer is offered under the leadership of the Imam who recites the Fatiha and other Quranic passages in an audible voice.
Special, large congregational prayers, which include a sermon, are also offered at late morning on the two days of festivity. One of them is immediately following the month of fasting, Ramadan, and the other after the pilgrimage, or hajj.
Although not religiously mandated, individual devotional prayers, especially during the night, are emphasized and are a common practice among pious Muslims. - islamreligion.com
Is it just me or does the time seem to be passing more quickly lately. One minute it is 2010 the next we are in the final half of 2012. No matter how badly we want the time to slow down it just moves forward, one second, one minute, and one hour at a time. Days go by and it feels like minutes. Before the day’s work even starts it is night time. God mentions this phenomenon in various places throughout the Quran.
They will say: “We stayed a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account.” (Quran 23:113)
…A speaker from among them said, “How long have you stayed (here)?” They said, “We have stayed (perhaps) a day or part of a day.” They said, “Your Lord (alone) knows best how long you have stayed (here)… (Quran 18:19)
Time passes swiftly, and when we stand before God on the Day of Judgement it will seem as if we have lived, dreamed and hoped for less than a day. It will seem as if we have worshipped our Creator for only the briefest of time and in only the most lackadaisical way. We know that many of us will beg God for more time, time to correct our actions and time to worship in a better way.
Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with God), he says: “My Lord! send me back, (Quran 23:99)
Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, reiterated this for us. Time will not slow down and we cannot go back to fix the mistakes we make therefore he advised us to take advantage of five, before five.
“Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth, before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your wealth, before you become poor; your free time before you become busy; and your life, before your death.”[1]
We are advised to take advantage of what time we have. When we are young we take our youth and energy for granted. We feel as if we have all the time in the world, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. But tomorrow creeps up on us slowly and one of the first things we lose is our youth. A grey hair appears, there is a niggling pain in our back, or our shoulder or a knee. As old age approaches people find it harder to fulfil even their obligatory acts of worship. When it is impossible to bend our knees and put our head on the ground in submission, we want only to be able to go back and pray one extra prayer, fast one extra day the way we did when we were young and full of energy. The young must take advantage of their youth before old age strips it away. Boundless energy should be used to help others, and to collect as many rewards as possible.
A believer must also take advantage of health before being overcome by sickness, with or without old age. Even young people are affected by ill health and injuries that make it impossible to worship in the way that they would like. Both God and Prophet Muhammad have emphasised the benefits and rewards that come from a believer experiencing pain and suffering. However when a person suffers ill health, he realises just how fragile human beings are. Prophet Muhammad reminds us that we do not know when our health will be taken from us. One day we have all our strength and mental faculties, the next we might be relying on others for even the simplest things.
Wealth is another blessing that comes to us from God. A believer should give as much as possible in charity while there is still something to give. We tend to think of charity as money but it is not confined to monetary matters. We give with our hands, our time, our knowledge and our money. We even give with our smile. However, we should use our monetary wealth to worship and please God before it is taken from us. We have no way of knowing when God will see fit to remove our wealth from us. People are rich one day and homeless the next. We must spend our wealth for the sake of God before we do not have the means to do so. And this will not go unrewarded.
The likeness of those who spend their money for God’s sake, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn), it grows seven ears, every single ear has a hundred grains, and God multiplies (increases the reward) for whom He wills, and God is All-Sufficient for His creatures needs, All Knower. (Quran 2:261)
Free time is another great blessing from God that each of us possesses, regardless of how busy we think we are. Spending this time wisely means not wasting it in fruitless activities that have no benefit. Even the simplest of acts can become worthwhile by simply doing them for the sake of God. If we free ourselves from fruitless time wasting activities it is possible the time to increase our religious deeds. When a person chooses wisely, worldly deeds can also be done for the sake of God. Remember that time moves inexorably forward. Do it today because you may not have a tomorrow. Use your free time wisely today before life is filled with worldly obligations that contain no benefit whatsoever unless you live every moment to please God.
The final thing we have been advised to take advantage of is, life before death overtakes us. Every morning we should thank God for another day. Each day is a chance to do well; to spend in charity, to worship longer, harder, or in a better way. It is a chance to spread good cheer, smile, and pay that extra dollar or two in charity. It is a chance to perform countless random acts of kindness. We have become relaxed about the reality of death. At some point, perhaps in a matter of hours, minutes, or even seconds, our life will be taken away from us. Prophet Muhammad advises us to take advantage of the time we have. Do what you can now, not tomorrow, for tomorrow may never come.
This reminder from the Prophet Muhammad deals with responsibility, wisdom, foresight and time management, but it is not the only time he reminded us of the importance of being aware of our blessings and using them to our own advantage. We are constantly reminded, throughout the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet, that time is fleeting and that every little thing we do is able to become a source of great reward. Prophet Muhammad also said, “Three things follow the deceased [to his grave], two of them return and one remains with him. His family, wealth and deeds follow him, while his family and wealth return, his deeds remain with him.”[2]
Real happiness and peace can be found in submitting to the commands of the Creator and the Sustainer of this world. God has said in the Quran:
"Truly, in remembering God do hearts find rest." (Quran 13:28)
On the other hand, the one who turns away from the Quran will have a life of hardship in this world. God has said:
"But whoever turns away from the Quran,[1] he will have a hard life, and We will raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment." (Quran 20:124)
This may explain why some people commit suicide while they enjoy the material comfort money can buy. For example, look at Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam), formerly a famous pop singer who used to earn sometimes more than $150,000 a night. After he converted to Islam, he found true happiness and peace, which he had not found in material success.[2]
- islamreligion.com Footnotes:
[1]i.e. neither believes in the Quran nor acts on its orders.
[2]The present mailing address of Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam), in case you would like to ask him about his feelings after he converted to Islam, is: 2 Digswell Street, London N7 8JX, United Kingdom.
It is difficult to limit all of Islam into a few core values. Nevertheless, the most important beliefs and religious practices were identified by Prophet Muhammad himself. Thus, there is general agreement on them among all Muslims. It provides an interesting comparison since modern Jews and Christians do not have similar uniformity in their belief systems. Christians, for example, have numerous creeds[1] and Jews do not have any agreed upon beliefs. Modern Jews mostly agree over the 613 commandments that Maimonides, a Jewish rabbi from Muslim Spain, recorded and classified in the 12th century.
Additionally, Muslim scholars, past and present, have also identified and in certain cases agreed on the core teachings of the Quran, of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and the ‘essentials’ of Islamic Law (Shariah).
Core Islamic Beliefs: Six Articles of Faith
More than a billion Muslims share a common set of fundamental beliefs that are described as "Articles of Faith." These articles of faith form the foundation of Islamic belief system.
1. Belief in One God: The most important teaching of Islam is that only God is to be served and worshipped. Also, the biggest sin in Islam is to worship other beings with God. In fact, Muslims believe that it is the only sin that God does not forgive if a person dies before repenting from it.
2. Belief in Angels: God created unseen beings called angels who work tirelessly to administer His kingdom in full obedience. The angels surround us at all times, each has a duty; some record our words and deeds.
3. Belief in Prophets of God: Muslims believe that God communicates His guidance through human prophets sent to every nation. These prophets start with Adam and include Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, peace be upon them. The main message of all the prophets has always been that there is only One true God and He alone is worthy of being supplicated to and worshipped.
4. Belief in Revealed Books of God: Muslims believe that God revealed His wisdom and instructions through ‘books’ to some of the prophets like the Psalms, Torah, and the Gospel. Over time, however, the original teachings of these books got distorted or lost. Muslims believe the Quran is God’s final revelation revealed to Prophet Muhammad and has been fully preserved.
5. Belief in Day of Judgment: The life of this world and all that is in it will come to an end on an appointed day. At that time, every person will be raised from the dead. God will judge each person individually, according to his faith and his good and bad actions. God will show mercy and fairness in judgment. According to Islamic teachings, those who believe in God and perform good deeds will be eternally rewarded in Heaven. Those who reject faith in God will be eternally punished in the fire of Hell.
6. Belief in Destiny and Divine Decree: Muslims believe that since God is the Sustainer of all life, nothing happens except by His Will and with His full knowledge. This belief does not contradict the idea of free will. God does not force us, our choices are known to God beforehand because His knowledge is complete. This recognition helps the believer through difficulties and hardships.
Core Religious Practice of Islam: The Five "Pillars" of Islam
In Islam, worship is part of daily life and is not limited to mere rituals. The formal acts of worship are known as the five "pillars" of Islam. The five pillars of Islam are the declaration of faith, prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage.
1. Declaration of Faith: The "Declaration of Faith" is the statement, "La ilaha illa Allah wa MuhammadRasul-ullah", meaning "There is no deity worthy of being worship except God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God". The Declaration of Faith is more than just a statement; it must be shown with one's actions. To convert to the faith of Islam, a person has to say this statement.
2. Daily Prayer: Prayer is a method by which a Muslim connects to God and gathers spiritual strength and peace of mind. Muslims perform five formal prayers a day.
3. Zakah: A type of charity. Muslims recognize that all wealth is a blessing from God, and certain responsibilities are required in return. In Islam, it is the duty of the wealthy to help the poor and needy.
4. Fast of Ramadan: Once each year, Muslims are commanded to fast for an entire month from dawn to sunset. The period of intense spiritual devotion is known as the fast of Ramadan in which no food, drink and sex is allowed during the fast. After sunset one can enjoy these things. During this month Muslims practice self-control and focus on prayers and devotion. During the fast, Muslims learn to sympathize with those in the world who have little to eat.
5. The Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca: Every Muslim strives to make once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to the sacred sites in Mecca, in present-day Saudi Arabia. It is the most intense spiritual experience for a Muslim. Typically, 2-3 million perform hajj every year.
Core of the Quran: Surah (Chapter)al-Fatihah
Scholars consider Surah al-Fatihah, the first chapter of the Quran, to be the core of the Quran. It is recited in every formal prayer in the Arabic language. The translation follows:
"I begin with the name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are for God, the Lord of the worlds. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the Straight Path (of Islam), the path of those You have blessed, not the path of those who have incurred Your wrath nor of those who have gone astray."
To listen the recitation of Surah al-Fatiha click here
Core Teachings of Prophet Muhammad
Classical scholars of Islam have condensed the teachings of Prophet Muhammad into a few statements. These comprehensive statements touch every aspect of our lives. Some of them are:
1)Actions are judged by the intention behind them.
2)God is Pure and does not accept anything unless it is pure and God has commanded the faithful with what He commanded the prophets.
3)Part of a person’s good observance of Islam is to leave aside what does not concern him.
4)A person cannot be a complete believer unless he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.
5)One should not harm himself or others.
6)Don’t let your focus in this life be to amass worldly gain and God will love you. Don’t be concerned with what people have, and they will love you.
Core of Islamic Law or Shariah
The core of Islamic Law is preservation of:
1)Religion
2)Life
3)Family
4)Mind
5)Wealth
6)Some contemporary scholars suggest either justice or liberty to be the sixth category.
In the vision of Islam, they are known as "essentials" because they are considered essential to human welfare.
In conclude, if someone were to ask, what is the core of Islam in the fewest possible words, the answer would be, "it is within the word Islam itself: to serve, worship, and lovingly submit to God."
5. Leads people into error,[11] makes to forget God’s name,[12] teaches profaneness and sin,[13] and oppresses.[14]
The New Testament says of Jesus’ criteria to identify false prophets:
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit."[15]
We learn the following:
(i) prophecy will continue after Jesus.
(ii) beware of false prophets.
(iii) the criteria to identify a false prophet is his fruits, that is his works or deeds.[16]
As stated earlier, Muhammad claimed unequivocally, ‘I am God’s Messenger.’ If a person evaluates his claim on the above criteria, he will find it meets the criteria completely.
In Islamic doctrine, all prophets constitute a spiritual fraternity of brothers with a single ‘father,’ but different ‘mothers.’ The ‘father’ is prophethood and unity of God, the ‘mothers’ are the different Laws they brought. Emphasizing the spiritual fraternity of all prophets, Prophet Muhammad said:
"I am the closest of all people to the son of Mary (Jesus). The prophets are paternal brothers, their mothers are different, but their religion is one." (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)
All prophets are ‘rays’ from the same ‘Lamp’: the central message of all prophets throughout ages was to dedicate worship to God only. That’s why Islam views denying a single prophet as equivalent to denying them all. The Quran states:
"Indeed, those who deny God and His messengers, and wish to separate God from His messengers, saying: ‘We believe in some but reject others’ and want to pursue a path in-between - it is they, they who are truly denying the truth: and for those who deny the truth We have readied shameful suffering. But as for those who believe in God and His messengers and make no distinction between any of them - unto them, in time, will He grant their rewards [in full]. And God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace." (Quran 4:150-152)
Denying the prophethood of Muhammad is tantamount to denying all prophets. The prophethood of Muhammad is known just like the prophethood of Moses and Jesus is known: the numerous reports of their miracles that have reached us. The Book brought by Muhammad (the Quran) is fully preserved, and His Law is complete and applicable to today’s world. Moses brought the Law and justice, Jesus brought grace and flexibility. Muhammad combined between the Law of Moses and the grace of Jesus.
If someone were to say, ‘he was an imposter,’ others are more fit to be charged with this accusation. Hence, denying Muhammad is denying one’s own prophets. If a reasonable person looks at two bright stars, he must acknowledge both are stars, he cannot say to one, ‘Yes, this one is a bright star,’ but deny the other! Doing so would be denying reality and a lie.
Make a table of all the prophets you believe in. Start from the first one to the last one you believe in. Answer the following questions:
What is the evidence I believe he was a true prophet?
What was the mission of the prophet in his own words?
Did he bring a Law? Is his Law applicable today?
What scripture did he bring? How is its content and meaning?
Is the scripture preserved in the original language it was revealed in? Is it considered a literary authority, free of internal inconsistencies?
What do you know of his morals and integrity?
Compare all the prophets you have listed and then answer the same questions about Muhammad. Then ask yourself, ‘Can I honestly take Muhammad out of my list because he does not meet the criteria as other prophets?’ It will not take too much effort to discover that the evidence for Muhammad’s prophethood is stronger and more convincing.
A skeptic need consider what is so unusual about Muhammad’s claim to be a prophet? When did God declare an end to prophecy before him? Who decided that there would not be any more divine communication with human beings? With no evidence to block divine revelation, it is natural to accept a continuity of revelation:
"Indeed, We have sent you with the truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and a Warner: for there never was any community but a Warner has [lived and] passed away in its midst." (Quran 35:24)
"And We sent forth Our messengers, one after another: [and] every time their messenger came to a community, they gave him the lie: and so We caused them to follow one another [into the grave], and let them become [mere] tales: and so - away with the folk who would not believe!" (Quran 23:44)
This is true especially when the truth was perverted by Jews and Christians, the Christians claiming Jesus was the son of God and Jews calling him an illegitimate son of Joseph the Carpenter. Muhammad brought the truth: Jesus was God’s noble prophet born of a miraculous virgin birth. As a result, Muslims believe in Jesus and love him, neither going to the extreme like the Christians, nor disparaging him like the Jews.
