As history narrates and as the Holy Qur’an depicts, the performance of Muhammad (SA) as a prophet stands as the greatest witness and proof which indicate the love and sincerity of Muhammad to the Message and its Sender. The fact of the matter is that Allah (SWT) has chosen thebest , most loved, and most sincere person to Him to convey His Message. And He the Almighty knows best what's in the hearts. As He (SWT) says in the Qur’an,
“ Allah chooses for Himself whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him) [42:13].”
He (SWT) also says,
“ Allah best knows where He places His message [6:124].”
After all, if Allah (SWT) knew of any person more sincere, loving, devoted and fearful of Him than Muhammad, He (SWT) would've surely chosen him. But, Muhammad deserved the divine selection due to his extreme love to his Lord and his attachment and sincerity to Him.
As for those people who envied Muhammad and felt it was too much for him to be chosen by Allah (SWT), they said,
“ Why was not this Qur’an revealed to a man of importance in the two towns [43:31]?”
Who from them loved Allah (SWT) and came to Him like Muhammad did?
Who from them knew Allah (SWT) and was sincere to Him like Muhammad was?
Who from them abandoned life and its ambitions and ornaments, and instead made his God and Creator be the center of his life, like Muhammad did?
Who from them abandoned idol worshipping voluntarily and willingly went to worship Allah (SWT) alone, treading the path of Abraham (AS), like Muhammad did?
Who from them left his home, family, friends, servants, and comfort to go out in the dark nights alone to the rocky ways of Mecca and climb a scary mountain to stay in a small cave inside it, to pray to His Lord, seek His Help and speak softly to Him, as Muhammad did?
Who from them did all that in order to deserve the divine selection?
They thought that the divine choice would be determined based on worldly power, wealth, fame, or tribal seniority, while they forgot that Allah (SWT) has other standards and measures in making His selection which is different from the human standards.
Allah (SWT) chooses good hearts which truly and sincerely loves Him. He (SWT) chooses the purified and enlightened selves and He chooses the good, noble manners and righteous souls that voluntarily obey Him, and which are preoccupied in His worship over others. So Allah (SWT) honors them by His divine selection. In brief, Allah (SWT) chooses those whochoose Allah (SWT) and He loves those who love Him, and He guides those who seek His guidance.
It was aSECRET between two! The fact of the matter is that there was a special secret between Muhammad and His God! A secret which no one knows except both of them before the Divine Revelation! A very special and
unique relationship! Muhammad was very careful to keep it a hidden secret throughout the years until he turned forty years old and received the divine revelation.
This secret and this unique relationship is what made Allah (SWT) choose him to convey His Final Message. It was not a temporary or limited relationship; rather it started a long while ago when Muhammad was still a very young lad opening his eyes to life. This pure, sincere, and unique divine relationship between Muhammad and His Lord is what poured rivers of light upon him and veneration from Allah (SWT). It is what made the clouds shadow him wherever he went. It is what made the priests from the Jews and Christians recognize him when they saw him accompany his uncle (Abu Talib) and they warned him to protect Muhammad from the conspiracies and envy of his enemies.
It is what made love and respect surround him such that no one saw him without falling in love with him and respecting him. This special and unique relationship which was kept a secret and will continue to be a secret which no one knows or understands, or truly appreciate except very few people!
And if history narrates to us more about the life of Prophet Muhammadbefore the revelation of the Message, we will find thousands of proofs that would indicate the presence of this special and unique relationship between Muhammad and his Lord. Here, we see Muhammad in his commercial travels trips to the north and south as he enjoys meeting the priests and worshippers and those who dedicate their lives for God (like himself). He is happy to meet them out of his love to his Creator, as if he is happy to remember his loved one with them.
These honorable meetings in the love and worship of Allah (SWT) which Muhammad was later accused unjustly that he came to know the stories of past religions from them, while these meetings were short, transitory, and were for those who tread the path of Allah (SWT) and yearn for His worship.
Is there any wonder after that if we see Muhammad (after the Revelation of the Message) prolonging his prayer and supplication to his Lord at night, such that his feet swell and he sleeps very little? Shall we then wonder if we see him turning his face on the ground from long prostration out of love and humility to Allah (SWT), such that his wife Ayesha thought that he died due to his long prostration? Shall we then wonder when we see him crying out of fear of Allah (SWT) and laughing and speaking very little? Shall we then wonder when we listen to him saying that the comfort of his eyes is in prayer?
Shall we then wonder if his last words when he departed this life was "to the highest companion " while his eyes are fixed to the heavens and his heart gives its last heartbeat, a heart that beats in the love of his Creator which it never beat except by Him and for Him. He didn't know or love anyone other than Allah (SWT), such that life became worthless to Him. Or let us say that thewhole life itself and those in it was nothing to Him but a heartbeat of love and a tune of adoration to Allah (SWT)!
So who from us is more loving to Allah (SWT) than Muhammad? Who from all the hearts of humanity loved Allah (SWT) and was more devoted to Him as Muhammad?
Muhammad's divine selection to become the Seal of Prophets and Messengers and the best of His creation and the Master of His living beings did not come from nothing. The sincere love from Muhammad towards his Lord was presentbefore the Divine Revelation and continued to exist and grow even more after the Revelation.
It was one connected chain and rope between him and his creator which will never be severed! It is a relationship between him and his God and Creator that has no limit. For that reason, Allah (SWT) willed that the divine inspiration begin while Muhammad was at the peak and climax of this worshipping state inside the cave within a mountain at midnight to cherish that moment for Muhammad and to let the people understand that Allah (SWT) did not choose him from nothing. Rather, He (SWT) chose him because Muhammad (SA) chose Allah (SWT) at a time when no one did! He sold himself to Allah (SWT) at a time when it was not heard of. Now, did the people realize that from this divine hint?
After all, if the divine revelation descended for the first time on Muhammad while he was in his home among his family, or while he was in one of his commercial trips, maybe we wouldn't have come to know that Muhammad used to go out to Cave Hiraa’ in the darkness of night to worship his Lord!
This fact would've definitely been kept a hidden secret between Muhammad and his Lord without anyone knowing about it. History would've intentionally or unintentionally, or out of ingratitude ignored this unique worship by Muhammadbefore the Revelation and it wouldn't have reached us today.
Praise be to Allah (SWT) that He (SWT) commenced the divine revelation on the master of worshippers Muhammad (SA), on this fateful night in Cave Hiraa’ in Mecca while Muhammad was at the climax of this worshipping state to his Lord…to cherish this unique condition and honor that sacred secret which brought Muhammad and his Lord together…between the worshipper and the one who is being worshipped…between the lover and the beloved…and between the heart and whom it loves and desires!!!
The relationship of Muhammad with his Lord was based on complete faith and absolute sincerity, true love, obedience, submission, and surrender to Him (SWT). If we summarize and describe this very special relationship between Muhammad and his Lord in one word, we will not find a better word than the word "Islam ".
Yes, this relationship was complete and total Islam (surrender) to Allah (SWT)! This is the type of relationship which Allah (SWT) desires between Him and His worshippers. Muhammad embodied this relationship even before the Revelation. Allah (SWT) desired that this example widespread to all people, so He (SWT) sent Muhammad with it to become a religion and way of life.
Religion, by definition is nothing but a set of guidelines that define the relationship between God and His servants. He (SWT) named this religionIslam , to summarize that type of relationship which was started by Abraham (AS) who was praised in the Qur’an in the following verse,
“ Abraham was indeed a model, devoutly obedient to Allah, (and) true in Faith, and he was not of the polytheists.” [16:20]
The prophets after him tread that path, and then it was completed, perfected, and lived by Muhammad (AS) in the best, purified, and complete form. It is as if Allah (SWT) wants to tell His servants that whoever of you wants to have a religion with me (meaning to have a relationship with me), this relationship should be complete surrender (Islam), as Abraham (AS) the Friend began and was concluded by Muhammad - the Chosen one, on the same basis and foundations.
As for those who seek different way to achieve proximity with Allah (SWT), it will not be accepted from him. Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an,
“ Surely the (true) religion with Allah is Islam [3:19].”
He (SWT) also says,
“If anyone desires a religion other than Islam, it shall not be accepted from him, and in the hereafter he shall be one of the losers [3:85].”
So the relationship of Muhammad with his Lord before Islam was in essenceIslam (submission). Allah (SWT) loves it, so He (SWT) chose Muhammad (SWT) to spread this Message and make it a path and religion for all of mankind. Allah (SWT) designated Muhammad as the messenger and prophet of Islam; Muhammad would invite the people to it because he already practiced it, mastered it, and was sincere in it.
So Prophet Muhammad (SA) is most worthy of being assigned this job after Allah (SWT) completed and perfected the message with the rules, verses, jurisprudence, obligations, restrictions, and the Holy Book. There is no prophet who didn’t call for Islam as a way for the relationship between the Creator and His creation, and to become a religion by which they worship Allah (SWT) who will be pleased of those who worship Him through this way and this approach.
Now, let us take a quick look at the condition and picture which prevailed, minutes before that decisive moment which was about to take place to change the history of mankind, and all of creation and universe.
The earth was filled with injustice, unfairness, violence, corruption, bloodshed, wars, and struggles between the humans. Life has become like hell that is unbearable, after materialism dominated it and pulled man down as his lower desires and ambitions dominated him.
There is no room or place for morals, principles, values, manners, and compassion among the people and life has become a chaotic jungle!
Man have submitted to his lower desires without limit or control and have become arrogant and oppressor. The strong eats the weak, and the king steps on the heads of those ruled and oppressed. Justice became lost while injustice became widespread.
The wealthy and affluent compose a very small corrupted minority, while the poor and deprived are the majority but they are weak and paralyzed. Chaos has become widespread and the religions all lean towards polytheism, idol and self worshipping. Human desires, fantasies, deviation, fabrication, and misguidance took over and distorted the religions.
The Jews have distorted their religion and their priests have concealed the truth for their own personal interests. The Jews are divided on Earth and most of them are corrupt, envious, and materialistic. Yet at the same time, they claim that they are the "chosen people by Allah” and that they are the "loved ones of Allah"!
They believe that there is no true religion except theirs and they have disfigured their religion and killed their prophets and distorted their purified history. They await the appearance of a prophet whom they know will appear and they find his signs written in their books.
They believe that he will achieve for them final victory from God and they will gain control over the world under his leadership. But of course they anticipate him to be from among them [Bani Israel (sons of Ya'qoob)]. At the same time, they despise the Christians and are happy that they have allegedly killed their prophet Jesus.
On the other hand, the Christians went astray and have become misguided. They worshipped their prophet Jesus instead of God and they said the grave utterance and falsely claimed that Allah (SWT) has a son! They deviated from the laws of their religion and distorted their Book and followed their misguided priests and displeased their God.
They thought that they were on the right path while the others are misguided and they bear animosity towards the Jews. Their scholars also knew that a prophet was about to appear, whose signs were indicated in their books.
As for the Zoroastrians, they also distorted the religion of Abraham (Peace be upon him) and they worshipped the Fire. The Arabs have distorted the religion of Ishmael and worshipped the idols. Disbelief and polytheism have become widespread with all its different types and forms. Everyone practices his ignorance, deviation, and disbelief with all sincerity, fanaticism, and involvement.
The true believers are a very small minority and Muhammad is one them. You can almost count them on the fingers of one hand as they are scattered here and there. They were a minority who were wandering and didn't know where to go as they searched for the truth in the midst of darkness and sought the help of their Lord.
They requested Him to send a messenger to guide them and show them the truth from falsehood, and lead them out of darkness to the light of guidance. They too were waiting and anticipating the appearance of this prophet sent from God so that they can believe in Him and march under his banner and leadership.
Allah (SWT) sees, hears, watches, and observes everything. He (SWT) sees the nonbelievers, polytheists, and those who are displeased with from the Jews and the misguided from the Christians, and the idol worshippers who associate another God with Allah (SWT). He (SWT) hears the prayers of the oppressed people, the weak, the deprived, and the believers.
With His compassion, He (SWT) watches and observes all those people who have been deceived by the life of this world and tempted by the ample time which Allah (SWT) gave them, till they thought that He (SWT) is oblivious of them, or that He (SWT) is absent from them or does not see them. He (SWT) also sees those who believe in Him and are never desperate from His mercy and compassion. Those who never give up hope that one day He (SWT) will answer their prayers as they have very deep faith and trust in Him. And Muhammad was surely one of them!
This condition reminds us of the same situation which was present before when Allah (SWT) spoke with Prophet Moses (May Allah be pleased with him). The sons of Israel were enslaved in Egypt for many long centuries. Pharaoh used to torture them, kill their children, rape their women, and enslave them in the worst conditions.
The believers among them kept praying to their God day and night to relieve from this torture and bondage, and liberate them from slavery, and send to them a messenger, leader, and deliverer to lead them out of this torture. They were expecting the imminent appearance of that prophet as they know from their books. One of those believers who prayed to God to save his people from torture, persecution, and inferiority was Moses (AS) who was the most humble, submissive and loving to God from all of Bani Israel!
Suddenly, the mercy of Allah (SWT) poured at a fateful moment…and also in the middle of a bare desert…and also in the middle of the darkness of night…and also on top of a mountain. Moses sees the fire and goes towards it to get a light.
But instead, Allah (SWT) speaks directly to him and informs him that He (SWT) is the God of Abraham and Jacob and that He (SWT) listens and sees the condition of the sons of Israel and the oppression of pharaoh. He (SWT) informs him that he has been chosen to become the awaited prophet and the expected deliverer to stand against Pharaoh by the power of Allah (SWT) and lead his people out of bondage to the dignity of God's obedience, and out of poverty and inferiority to independence and sovereignty!
The tradition of Allah (SWT) is the same and you will not find change or replacement in the way of Allah (SWT). Once again and under similar circumstances, and after hundreds of years, the same situation repeats itself exactly and the similarity is clear to any person.
Once again, the mercy of Allah (SWT) poured on the believers, the weak and deprived, and the oppressed. And His wrath descended on those nonbelievers, polytheists, counterfeiters, distorters, misguides, hypocrites, arrogant, those whom Allah (SWT) is displeased with, the luxurious, and the unjust, those who want to achieved highness on earth and be worshipped besides Allah (SWT).
Suddenly, the light appeared and dawn rose to override darkness and fill the earth with knowledge and enlighten the path and enjoin the truth and forbid the evil. But how did it come and from where? It came from where no one expected and this also is the tradition of Allah (SWT)!
Who would've expected that Moses, the fugitive and the chased one would become the prophet and deliverer chosen by Allah (SWT) to liberate the sons of Israel? Andwho would've expected that Taloot would become the awaited king to defeat the giants? Andwho would've expected that David (the poor young man) would kill Golaith, the great giant king?
This time, Allah (SWT) chose His sincere, truthful believer and servant, Muhammad, who carries an intact heart, who was worshipping Him inside this cave in the heart of the mountain, in the middle of the night!
He (SWT) chose him to become the awaited prophet and messenger who will lead all of humanity out darkness of ignorance to the light of guidance, and who will demolish the foundations of polytheism, disbelief, injustice, arrogance, corruption, and hypocrisy. Muhammad was chosen to become the deliverer of the final divine Message from the Great Creator to all people in every time and place, such that no prophet or messenger will come after him till the Day of Judgment!
There are no more prophets to await. The only event left to anticipate is the reappearance of the Self-Guided (Al Mahdi) Imam from the descendent of the holy household of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), to act as the proof of Allah (SWT) and the sustainer of His religion. By the will of Allah (SWT), he will establish justice and fairness on earth, and will revive and revitalize the message of his grandfather, the Seal of Prophets and Messengers.
Allah (SWT) has chosen Muhammad (Peace be upon him) for His Message from the entire minority of believers who were scattered here and there. Now we understand why! Allah (SWT) chooses and selects whomever He (SWT) wants and does as He (SWT) pleases! Without a doubt, it is the special and unique relationship between Muhammad and his Lord which we previously discussed!
Allah (SWT) wills, by His Grace and Mercy that on this fateful moment, the doors of heavens open suddenly, and the angels led by the trustable Gabriel descend for the first time since the elevation of Prophet Jesus (AS)…while Muhammad is engaged in the worship and supplication to his Lord.
He is about to receive the great honor that Allah (SWT) is about to bestow him by choosing and selecting him over all mankind to become his Seal of Prophets and Messengers! He is yet to officially receive the huge responsibility and great message which is about to fall on his shoulders. He is yet to embrace the great honor which await him and which he's about to experience in Cave Hiraa’ on the night of the 27th of Rajab!
May the peace, prayers, and blessing of Allah (SWT) be upon Muhammad, His Noble Messenger and the Seal of the Prophets and his blessed and purified holy household!