I ask Allah that He facilitates that this essay reaches every ear,
falls under the sight of every eye, and is understood by every
heart... Muhammad the son of `Abdullah is Allah's Prophet and the
Final Messenger Sent by Allah to the Inhabitants of Earth. My
brothers and sisters everywhere! You should know that the Messenger,
Muhammad the son of `Abdullah (may Allah's blessings and peace be
upon him) is Allah's Messenger in reality and truth. The evidences
that show his veracity are abundant. None but an infidel, who out of
arrogance alone, could deny these signs.

Among these proofs:

1. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) was raised
illiterate, unable to read or write, and remained like that till his
death. Among all his people, he was known as being truthful and
trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had no prior knowledge
of Religion or any previously sent Message. He remained like that
for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad with the
Qur'an that we now have between our hands. This Qur'an mentioned
most of the accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us
about these events in the greatest detail as if he witnessed them.
These accounts came precisely as they were found in the Torah sent
down to Moses and in the Gospel sent down to Jesus. Neither the Jews
or Christians were able to believe him regarding anything that he
said.

2. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) also
foretold of everything that would occur to him and his community
after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the tyrannical
kingdoms of Chosroes [the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of
Persia] and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam
throughout the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad
foretold, as if he was reading the future from an open book.

3. Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) also
brought an Arabic Qur'an that is the peak of eloquence and clarity.
The Qur'an challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs of his time,
who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like the
Qur'an. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this
Qur'an. Indeed, till our day, none has ever dared to claim that he
has been able to compose words that equal-or even approach-the
order, grace, beauty, and splendor of this Glorious Qur'an.

4. The life history of this Noble Prophet was a perfect example of
being upright, merciful, compassionate, truthful, brave, generous,
distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all worldly matters,
while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter. Moreover, in
all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of
Allah.

5. Allah instilled great love for Muhammad (may Allah's blessings
and peace be upon him) in the hearts of all who believed in and met
him. This love reached such a degree that any of his companions
would willingly sacrifice his (or her) self, mother or father for
him. Till today, those who believe in Muhammad honor and love him.
Anyone of those who believe in him would ransom his own family and
wealth to see him, even if but once.

6. All of history has not preserved the biography of any person in
the manner it has preserved the life of Muhammad, who is the most
influential human in history. Nor has the entire earth known of
anyone whom every morning and evening, and many times thereafter
throughout the day, is thought of by those who believe in him. Upon
remembering Muhammad, the believers in him will greet him and ask
Allah to bless him. They do such with full hearts and true love for
him.

7. Nor has there every been a man on earth whom is still followed in
all his doings by those who believe in him. Those who believe in
Muhammad, sleep in the manner he slept; purify themselves (through
ablution and ritual washing) in the manner he purified himself; and
adhere to his practice in the way they eat, drink, and clothe
themselves.

Indeed in all aspects of their lives, the believers in Muhammad
adhere to the teachings he spread among them and the path that he
traveled upon during his life.

During every generation, from his day till our time, the believers
in this Noble prophet have fully adhered to his teachings. With
some, this has reached the degree that they desire to follow and
adhere to the Prophet's way in his personal matters regarding which
Allah has not sought of them to adhere to in worship. For example,
some will only eat those specific foods or only wear those specific
garments that the Messenger liked.

Let alone all that, all those who believe in Muhammad repeat those
praises of Allah, special prayers, and invocations that he would say
during each of his actions during day and night, like: what he would
say when he greeted people, upon entering and leaving the house,
entering and leaving the mosque, entering and leaving the bathroom,
going to sleep and awaking from sleep, observing the new crescent,
observing the new fruit on trees, eating, drinking, dressing,
riding, traveling and returning from travel, etc. Let alone all
that, all those who believe in Muhammad fully perform-even to the
minute detail-every act of worship-like prayer, fasting, charity,
and pilgrimage-as this Noble Messenger (may Allah's blessings and
peace be upon him) taught and as he himself performed. All of this
allows those who believe in him, to live their lives in all aspects
with this Noble Messenger as their example, as if he was standing
before them, for them to follow in all their doings.

8. There has never been nor will there ever be a man anywhere upon
this earth who has received such love, respect, honor, and obedience
in all matters-small and large alike-as has this Noble Prophet.

9. Since his day, in every region of the earth and during every
period, this Noble Prophet has been followed by individuals from all
races, colors and peoples. Many of those who followed him were
previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters, or without any
religion. Among those who chose to follow him, were those who were
known for their sound judgment, wisdom, reflection, and foresight.
They chose to follow this Noble Prophet after they witnessed the
signs of his truthfulness and the evidences of his miracles. They
did not choose to follow Muhammad out of compulsion or coercion or
because they had adopted the ways of their fathers and mothers.
Indeed many of the followers of this Prophet (may Allah's blessings
peace be upon him), chose to follow him during the time when Islam
was weak, when there were few Muslims, and when there was severe
persecution of his followers on earth. Most people who have followed
this Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) have done
so not to acquire some material benefits. Indeed many of his
followers have suffered the greatest forms of harm and persecution
as a result of following this Prophet. Despite all this harm and
persecution, this did not turn them back from his religion. My
brethren! All of this clearly indicates to anyone possessing any
sense, that this Prophet was truly and really Allah's messenger and
that he was not just a man who claimed prophethood or spoke about
Allah without knowledge.

10. With all this, Muhammad came with a great religion in its
creedal and legal make-up. Muhammad described Allah with qualities
of complete perfection, and at the same time in a manner that is
free of ascribing to Him any imperfection. Neither the philosophers
or the wise could ever describe Allah like such. Indeed it is
impossible to imagine that any human mind could conceive of an
existing being that possesses such complete ability, knowledge, and
greatness; Who has subdued the creation; Who has encompassed
everything in the universe, small or large; and Who possesses such
perfect mercy. Nor is it in the ability of any human being to place
a perfect law based upon justice, equality, mercy and objectivity
for all human activity on earth like the laws that Muhammad brought
for all spheres of human activity - like buying and selling,
marriage and divorce, renting, testimony, custody, and all other
contracts that are necessary to uphold life and civilization on
earth.

11. It is impossible that any person conceive wisdom,, morals, good
manners, nobleness of characters as what this honorable Prophet (may
Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) brought. In a full and
complete manner, Muhammad spread a teaching regarding character and
manners toward one's parents, relatives, fiends, family, humanity,
animals, plants and inanimate objects. It is impossible for the
human mind alone to grasp all of that teaching or come with a
similar teaching. All of that unequivocally indicates that this
Messenger did not bring an) of this religion from his own accord,
but that it was rather a teaching and inspiration that he received
from the One Who created the earth and the high heavens above and
created this universe in its miraculous architecture and perfection.

12. The legal and creedal make-up of the religion that the
Messenger, Muhammad, (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him)
brought resembles the engineering of the heavens and the earth. All
of that indicates that He who created the heavens and the earth is
the One Who sent down this great law and upright religion. The
degree of inimitability of the Divine law that was sent down upon
Muhammad is to the same degree of inimitability of the Divine
creation of the heavens and earth. For just as humanity cannot
create this universe, in the same manner humanity cannot bring forth
a law like Allah's law that He sent down upon His servant and
messenger Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him).