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LESSON THREE: THE QURAN'S TESTIMONY ABOUT PROPHET MUHAMMAD AND HIS WORK
We shall be looking in this study at what the Quran says about the prophet Muhammad. In particular, we shall try to determine the Quran's testimony as to his responsibility and work.
1. Prophet Muhammad - a Rasul or messenger.
a. 3:144 - Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him. Will it be that, when he dieth or is slain, ye
will turn back on your heels? He who turneth back on his heels doth no hurt
to Allah, and Allah will reward the thankful.
1) What is Muhammad called in this passage?
2) Is he anything more than a Rasul?
3) How many Rasuls were before him?
4) Thus, if Muhammad dies or is slain, should this cause people to turn from Allah?
b. 15:89 - And say: Lo! I, even I, am a plain warner,
c. 17:93 - Or thou have a house of gold; or thou ascend up into heaven,
and even then we will put no faith in thine ascension till thou bring down
for us a book that we can read. Say (O Muhammad): My Lord be Glorified! Am
I aught save a mortal messenger?
d. 17:105 With truth have We sent it down, and with truth hath it descended. And We have sent thee as naught else save a bearer of good
tidings and a warner.
1) In the first part of this verse, what does Allah give?
2) What two names are then used to describe Muhammad in this passage?
3) Who do you think will be the ones to whom Muhammad will give good news?
4) Who will be those he warns?
e. 18:110 - Say: I am only a mortal like you. My Lord inspireth in me that
your God is only One God. And whoever hopeth for the meeting with his Lord,
let him do righteous work, and make none sharer of the worship due unto his
Lord.
f. 22:49 - Say: O mankind! I am only a plain warner unto you.
g. 27:92 - And to recite the Qur'an. And whoso goeth right, goeth right
only for (the good of) his own soul; and as for him who goeth astray -
(Unto him) say: Lo! I am only a warner.
1) Muhammad is called a giver of good news. Who in this passage will receive that good news?
2) Muhammad is also called a warner. Who will he warn?
3) Besides giving warning, is Muhammad said here to do anything to save or rescue those going astray?
4) Do those traveling on the true path need to be saved or rescued?
h. 29:50 - And they say: Why are not portents sent down upon him from his
Lord? Say: Portents are with Allah only, and I am but a plain warner.
i. 33:40 and 45 - Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the
messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets; and Allah is ever Aware of
all things. O Prophet! Lo! We have sent thee as a witness and a bringer of
good tidings and a warner.
j. 35:23,24 and 37 - Thou art but a warner. Lo! We have sent thee with the Truth, a bearer of glad tidings
and a warner; and there is not a nation but a warner hath passed among them. And they cry for help there, (saying): Our Lord! Release us;
we will do right, not (the wrong) that we used to do. Did not We grant you
a life long enough for him who reflected to reflect therein? And the warner
came unto you. Now taste (the flavour of your deeds), for evil-doers have no helper.
k. 36:6 - That thou mayst warn a folk whose fathers were not warned, so
they are heedless.
l. 38:4 - And they marvel that a warner from among themselves hath come
unto them, and the disbelievers say: This is a wizard, a charlatan.
m. 50:2 - No, but they marvel that a warner of their own hath come unto
them; and the disbelievers say: This is a strange thing:
n. 67:8,9 and 26 - As it would burst with rage. Whenever a (fresh) host is flung
therein the wardens thereof ask them: Came there unto you no warner? They say: Yes, verily, a warner came unto us; but we denied
and said: Allah hath naught revealed; ye are in naught but a great error. Say: The knowledge is with Allah only, and I am but a plain
warner;
o. 79:45 - Thou art but a warner unto him who feareth it.
2. He is nothing unique or new.
a. 41:43 - Naught is said unto thee (Muhammad) save what was said unto
the messengers before thee. Lo! Thy Lord is owner of forgiveness, and owner
(also) of dire punishment.
According to this passage, is what is said about Muhammad different from what was said about earlier messengers?
b. 46:9 - Say: I am no new thing among the messengers (of Allah), nor
know I what will be done with me or with you. I do but follow that which is
inspired in me, and I am but a plain warner.
1) Here Muhammad plainly states that he is not what?
2) Is Muhammad aware of what is going to happen to you or me? Is he aware of what is going to happen to himself?
3) The verse concludes by repeating that Muhammad is only what?
3. A news bearer's responsibility.
a. 5:99 - The duty of the messenger is only to convey (the message).
Allah knoweth what ye proclaim and what ye hide.
b. 16:35 - And the idolaters say: Had Allah willed, we had not worshipped aught beside Him, we and our fathers, nor had we forbidden aught without
(command from) Him. Even so did those before them. Are the messengers charged with aught save plain conveyance (of the message)?
1) Idolaters make up many excuses for their disobedience. Is, then, the rasul responsible to save such stubborn people?
2) What is the rasul's responsibility?
3) Whom has Allah sent to each nation?
c. 29:18 - But if ye deny, then nations have denied before you. The
messenger is only to convey (the message) plainly.
4. Bringer of the Quran in Arabic to the Arab nation.
a. 12:2 - We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur'an, in order that ye may
learn wisdom.
b. 26:192-195 - And lo! It is a revelation of the Lord of the Worlds, Which the True Spirit hath brought down Upon thy heart, that thou mayst be (one) of the warners, In plain Arabic speech.
c. 42:7 - Thus have We sent by inspiration to thee an Arabic Qur'an:
that thou mayest warn the Mother of Cities and all around her,- and warn
(them) of the Day of Assembly, of which there is no doubt: (when) some will
be in the Garden, and some in the Blazing Fire.
1) The Quran was given in what language?
2) For what area was it meant to be a warning?
5. The condition of those who disobey and do not keep perfectly the laws brought by the prophet Muhammad.
a. 27:92 - And to recite the Qur'an. And whoso goeth right, goeth right
only for (the good of) his own soul; and as for him who goeth astray -
(Unto him) say: Lo! I am only a warner.
b. 39:41 - Lo! We have revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture for
mankind with truth. Then whosoever goeth right it is for his soul, and
whosoever strayeth, strayeth only to its hurt. And thou art not a warder
over them.
1) What is Muhammad said not to be in this verse?
2) Can those who disobey the commands Muhammad gave expect any help from him?
c. 72:20-23 - Lo! We have revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture for
mankind with truth. Then whosoever goeth right it is for his soul, and
whosoever strayeth, strayeth only to its hurt. And thou art not a warder
over them.
1) In verse 21 what is said to be outside of Mohammedâs ability?
2) Verse 23 describes Mohammedâs responsibility as what?
3) Those who disobey Mohammedâs message face going where?
4) According to the passage, how long will they stay there?
6. Testimony concerning his ability to intercede for others.
a. It is not in his power to aid or to harm anyone.
1) 7:188 - Say: For myself I have no power to benefit, nor power to hurt,
save that which Allah willeth. Had I knowledge of the Unseen, I should have
abundance of wealth, and adversity would not touch me. I am but a warner, and a bearer of good tidings unto folk who believe.
2) 42:48 - Say: For myself I have no power to benefit, nor power to hurt, save that which Allah willeth. Had I knowledge of the Unseen, I should have
abundance of wealth, and adversity would not touch me. I am but a warner, and a bearer of good tidings unto folk who believe.
3) 72:21 - Say: "It is not in my power to cause you harm, or to bring you to right conduct."
b. He is simply a warner. (See all passages referred to in '1a' above.)
c. Concerning his intercession
9:80 - Whether thou ask for their forgiveness, or not, (their sin is
unforgivable): if thou ask seventy times for their forgiveness, Allah will
not forgive them: because they have rejected Allah and His Apostle: and Allah
guideth not those who are perversely rebellious.
5. On the last day Allah accepts no intercession.
a. 2:48 - And guard yourselves against a day when no soul will in aught
avail another, nor will intercession be accepted from it, nor will
compensation be received from it, nor will they be helped.
b. 2:123 - And guard (yourselves) against a day when no soul will in
aught avail another, nor will compensation be accepted from it, nor will
intercession be of use to it; nor will they be helped.
6. Some personal questions to answer according to your own understanding and experience.
a. What does the average person believe about the ability of the prophet Muhammad to intercede?
b. Do you think they have they gotten their belief from the Quran? Why or why not?
c. Where do you think their idea has come from?
d. How do you think people could be helped to understand what the Quran's teaching on this important point is?
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