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THE UNIVERSAL MESSAGE OF THE PROPHET
Theologically speaking, the universality of the Prophet Muhammad’s message, peace and blessings be upon him, comes from the concept of one God who is the God of all, not only the God of Muslims. God describes Himself in the first chapter of the Qur’an, which is recited by all Muslims around the world in their five daily prayers; He is the God of all creation, “Rabb al-Alamīn.” Whether humans are aware of this fact or not, God is the God of all mankind—Muslims, Christians, atheists, etc.—regardless of their differences. God is the creator of everything, with no exception. The Qur’an declares that a gigantic star and an atom are shoulder to shoulder, worshiping the same God; a fly and an elephant are brothers and sisters; all of creation is here to help us understand the meaning and the mystery of the universe.
Before addressing the universality of Prophet Muhammad’s message, it is essential to focus our attention to the era when Muhammad’s message first emerged: 15 hundred years ago in pre-Islamic Arabia. Although there were some positive characteristics of Arabs before Islam, such as generosity, courage, and dignity, the feudal system of society was so harsh that the marginalized did not have any rights. Slaves were persecuted, women were sold like property, and female infants in many cases were buried alive as a part of traditional tribal honor. Wars between tribes occurred uncontrollably. People worshipped idols and made their own gods according to their own desires.
In the midst of such chaos, Muhammad was born in 571 CE on the 12th day of the third month of the Arabic calendar,Rabi al-Awaal. Throughout his adulthood he was not satisfied with the tribal traditions of his society. He would go into seclusion and meditate for a long time, particularly for the whole month of Ramadan. In the year 610 C.E., he experienced the first revelation which changed him and transformed the world forever. The revelation that came to Muhammad over a span of twenty-three years, constituted the Holy Scripture of Islam, the Qur’an, which literally means recitation. In a very short period of time, despite hostile reaction to his message, the Prophet’s kindness and tenderness made an impact on the hearts of many in the city of Mecca. He did not consider himself a deity or a part of God, rather he saw himself as the messenger of God who was to convey God’s message to the world.
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| Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai – UAE |
The Qur’an speaks of many prophets, like Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, and Jesus. We have chapters in the Qur’an named after some of these prophets. There are also particular verses about the personality of the Prophet of Islam. In one verse the Qur’an speaks of him as “rahmatan lil al-Amīn,” the mercy for many realms and worlds. Islamic scholars ask us to think, in order to understand the meaning of being merciful to creation, of the oppression that was occurring in the world into which Muhammad was born and the transformation that Muhammad’s message made.
Although the message of Muhammad addressed Arabs first, its nearest audience, it did not limit the message to the nation of Arabs, or for that matter to any nation. Many Qur’anic verses transcend locality, region, ethnicity, and nationality by starting with the call, “O Human beings,” or, “O People.”
The Prophet’s message brings the idea that everything in creation is a living, chanting, obedient worshipper of God, regardless of whether they are humans, animals, or other creatures.
