Section 2 Allah made His Prophet a witness over mankind; a description
of this praiseworthy and honorable rank
Allah says, “O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, and to bear warning, a caller to Allah by His permission and as a light shedding lamp.” 33:45-46. It is learned from this verse that Allah endowed His Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, with every noble rank and praiseworthy quality and that by conveying the Message He made him a witness of his nation which was one of his special, praiseworthy qualities. He is the one who brought the good news for all people who obey him, and warned those who opposed the Message he delivered. His Message called to the Oneness of Allah, and that it
He alone that should be worshiped. Allah described him as a “light shedding lamp” with which he guided to the truth.
is
Ata, Yasar’s son met Abdullah, Amr’s son, who was the son of Al As and asked him to described the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him. He said, “Indeed, by Allah some of the characteristics described in the Koran
found in the Torah that reads, ‘O Prophet, We will send him as a witness, a bringer of good tidings and as a warner and a refuge for the unlettered. He is
are
My worshipper and My Messenger, I will name him the one upon whom peoplerely.
He will be neither uncouth nor vulgar, nor yet shout in the market-place or repay evil with evil, rather he will pardon and forgive. Allah will not return him to Himself until the crooked nation has been straightened by him and they declare ‘There is no god except Allah!’ Through him, eyes that were blind, ears that were deaf and hearts that were covered will be opened.” A similar narration is reported by Abdullah, Salaam’s son and Ka’b Al Ahbar.
Isaac’s son quoted description of Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, in the Torah saying, “Who neither shouts in the market-place nor uses obscene language or indecent words. I open him to every excellent quality and will give him every noble characteristic. I will make tranquility his robe, devotion his axiom, fear of Me his conscience, wisdom his understanding, truthfulness and loyalty his nature, pardon and good ethics his character, justice
his demeanor, truth his jurisprudence, guidance his leader, submission (Islam) his religion and his name is Praiser (Ahmad). I will guide him after there as been a lack of guidance, and I will teach him after ignorance. I will raise him after obscurity and make his name known after being unknown. I will give him in abundance after there has been scarcity. I will enrich him after poverty and gather him after separation. I will unite hearts that have been divided, and scattered passions and separate communities through him. I will make his nation (all who believe him) the best nation that has ever come forth to people.”
The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, told his Companions of his description in the Torah, “My worshiper, Praiser (Ahmad), the Chosen, born in Mecca who will migrate to Medina (or he said Tayyibah) his nation will be those who praise Allah in every situation.”
In the Koran Allah tells us, “And to those who shall follow the Messenger – the Unlettered Prophet (Muhammad) whom they shall find written with them in the Torah and the Gospel. He will order kindness upon them and forbid them to do evil. He will make good things lawful to them and prohibit all that is foul. He will relieve them of their burdens and of the shackles that had weighed upon them. Those who believe in him and honor him, those who aid him and follow the light sent forth with him shall surely prosper.” 7:157.
Allah also says, “It was by the Mercy of Allah that you (Prophet Muhammad) dealt so leniently with them. Had you been hardhearted, they would have surely deserted you. Therefore ask forgiveness for them. Take counsel with them in the matter and when you are resolved, put your trust in Allah. Allah loves those who
trust.” 3:157.
As-Samarkandi commented upon this verse saying, “Allah reminds them that He made His Messenger merciful to believers, compassionate and lenient. If he had been harsh and spoken to them sternly they would have deserted him. But Allah made him generous, tolerant, kind and gentle.”
Abul Hasan Al Qabisi explained the verse “And so We have made you a median nation, in order that you will be a witness above people, and that the Messenger be a witness above you.” 2:143 saying, “Allah makes the excellence of our Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, very clear and also the excellence of nation.” his
By “median nation” Allah means a nation that is both balanced and good. The meaning of the next verses “And in this so that the Messenger can be a witness for you and in order that you be witnesses against mankind.” 2:143. And “How then shall it be when We bring forward from every nation a witness, and bring you (Prophet Muhammad) to witness against those!” 4:41 is, as Allah guided you, We chose and preferred you by making you an excellent balanced nation and also to permit you to be witnesses for the previous prophets against their nations, and Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, will be a truthful witness for you.
It is narrated that when Allah asks the prophets, if they conveyed the Message, they will affirm having done so, but their nation will say, “No bearer of glad tidings or a warner has come to us.” 5:19. It is then that the nation of Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, will bear witness on behalf of the prophets and the prophets will endorse their testimony. It is explained that everyone of you believing readers will be a witness over the other nations and that Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, is a witness over us.
As for those who believe, Allah says, “and bear the glad tidings to those who believe that they have a firm standing with their Lord.” 10:2. Katada together with Hasan al Basri and Zayid, explained “firm standing” refers to Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, who will intercede for believers on the Day of Judgement. Al Hasan also added “It is the giving of Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him, to believers.” In addition Sahl At- Tustori explained that it is the mercy Allah had pre-ordained and placed in Prophet Muhammad, praise and peace be upon him. Muhammad son of Ali At- Tirmidhi further expounded saying, “He is the leader of the truthful, and the true. He is the one whose intercession is accepted, and the one whose supplication is answered.”
Section 3 – The kindness and gentleness of Allah towards the Prophet
Allah said, “Allah has pardoned you. Why did you give them leave (to stay behind) until it was clear to you which of them was truthful and knew those who lied?” 9:43. The kindness and gentleness of Allah is demonstrated in this verse. Awn, Abdullah’s son draws our attention to the gentleness of Allah who tells His Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, that He had pardoned him by referring to his status of continuous pardon before He mentions his minor mistake if any.
As-Samarkandi reported that he had heard it explained that Allah protected His Prophet, and made his heart sound. If he had first been addressed with the words “why did you give them leave” then his heart would have been so stricken that it might almost have burst from the terror of these words. But
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 