The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is regarded by Muslims as the seal of the prophets and the greatest of all mankind. God honored him with the final message and made him a mercy to all the worlds. His greatness extended to every aspect of his life, manifesting in his morals, faith, personal conduct, and his relationships with both his companions and enemies alike. The Qur'an directly and indirectly highlights his greatness, as do the hadiths (prophetic traditions), as well as the testimonies of Muslim and non-Muslim scholars.
### The Qur'an and the Greatness of Prophet Muhammad:
The Qur'an is the primary and fundamental source that highlights the greatness of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. God revealed the Qur'an to him, making him the bearer of the final message to humanity. Some verses that reference his greatness include:
1. **God’s Selection of the Prophet**: Allah says:
*“Allah knows best where to place His message”* (Al-An'am: 124).
This verse emphasizes that God, in His infinite wisdom, chose Muhammad to deliver this grand message because He knew him to be the most deserving.
2. **His Great Character**: Allah says:
*“And indeed, you are of a great moral character”* (Al-Qalam: 4).
This verse points to the Prophet’s exemplary character, showing that he embodied the highest ethical standards.
3. **God's Testimony to His Prophethood**: Allah says:
*“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”* (Al-Fath: 29).
This direct statement from God affirms the Prophet’s status as a divinely chosen messenger.
4. **A Mercy to the Worlds**: Allah says:
*“And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds”* (Al-Anbiya: 107).
This verse highlights that the message of Prophet Muhammad was universal, and he came as a mercy to all of humanity, not just a specific nation.
5. **God's Protection of His Prophet**: Allah says:
*“Indeed, We are sufficient for you against the mockers”* (Al-Hijr: 95).
This verse reassures the Prophet that God will protect him from those who seek to mock or harm him.
### The Hadiths and the Greatness of the Prophet:
The Prophet, peace be upon him, spoke about his status and greatness in several hadiths, including:
1. The Prophet said: *“I am the master of the children of Adam on the Day of Resurrection, and I do not boast. I will be the first for whom the grave will be opened, the first intercessor, and the first whose intercession will be accepted”* (Sahih Muslim).
In this hadith, the Prophet emphasizes his unique position as the greatest of all humanity, while maintaining humility by saying, "and I do not boast."
2. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: *“I was sent to perfect noble character”* (Musnad Ahmad).
This hadith confirms that the Prophet’s mission was to elevate and complete the highest ethical and moral standards.
3. The Prophet said: *“The example of me and the previous prophets is like a man who built a beautiful and perfect house, except for a missing brick in one of the corners. People walked around the house and admired it, but said: 'If only that brick were in place!' I am that brick, and I am the seal of the prophets”* (Sahih Bukhari).
Here, the Prophet describes himself as the final brick completing the structure of prophethood, signifying his role as the last and final messenger.
### Statements of Muslim Scholars on the Greatness of the Prophet Muhammad:
Muslim scholars throughout history have spoken about the greatness of the Prophet Muhammad and his unique qualities. Among them:
1. **Imam Al-Busiri**: In his famous poem "Al-Burdah," he said:
*Muhammad is the master of the two worlds and the two species, of Arabs and non-Arabs alike*
*Our Prophet, the one who commands and forbids, no one is more truthful than him in saying “yes” or “no”*
Here, Imam Al-Busiri points out that Prophet Muhammad is the master of all humanity and that he set the standards of divine commands and prohibitions.
2. **Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim**: In his book *Jalā’ al-Afhām fī Faḍl aṣ-Ṣalāt ‘ala Khayr al-Anām*, he wrote:
"One of the Prophet’s unique attributes is that he attained perfection in every way—whether in morals, attributes, guidance, and reform. He is the teacher, guide, and reformer."
3. **Imam Al-Shafi'i**: He said:
"Muhammad’s superiority over the rest of mankind is like the superiority of the heavens over the earth and the sea over dry land, and the superiority of night over day."
### Statements of Non-Muslim Scholars on the Greatness of Prophet Muhammad:
The acknowledgment of Prophet Muhammad’s greatness is not limited to Muslim scholars. Non-Muslim scholars and intellectuals have also recognized his remarkable influence and stature in history.
1. **Michael Hart**, in his book *The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History*, wrote:
"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers, but he was the only man in history who was sup