A Journey of Faith and Trials

Indeed, what you are witnessing is by God's decree. One person had entrusted me to another, and that one entrusted me to you. He said, "My son, by Allah, I know of nobody remaining on the path we were on except a man in Emessa, a land of the Romans. Seek him, for you will find him on the same path. After he passed away, I journeyed until I arrived in Emessa. I found him in the same state as the rest. Here, I built my life until I accrued wealth and cattle.

The Final Will

Then came upon him death. I asked him who he would entrust me to since he was at his end. He said, "My son, I know not of anyone still on our path. I command you to seek him. Indeed, there should arise a Prophet from the sanctified land whose migration shall be between the two barriers of the 'land of the date palms', with signs clear as day. He has the sign of Prophethood between his shoulders, he accepts gifts, but does not consume charity. Should you manage to travel to this land, do so for his time is nearing."

New Chapter & Betrayal

After his death, I waited until a group of Arab merchants arrived. I requested them to take me to Arabia and offered my wealth and cattle in return, they agreed. However, arriving in Wadi Al-Qura, they deceived me and sold me as a slave to a man of Bani Qurayza from Wadi Al-Qura. I beheld the palm trees and had hope that this was the land the man had described to me.

Awaiting the Prophet

Eventually, a man from Bani Qurayza bought me and took me to Medina. Upon seeing it, I recognized it as the land described to me. Life in servitude continued until God's Messenger was sent to Mecca. None of his affairs stirred me from my enslaved state until the Messenger of Allah arrived in Quba, while I was working at my master's date palm farm.

The Arrival of The Prophet

Upon the arrival of the Prophet, I was extremely excited. The Messenger of Allah said to me that I should give them support while they were digging. After I finished, I approached him to be the one putting the stone to its place with the help of my companions. So, I dug where the stone should be placed until we were done, and then I came to the Messenger.

The Prophet’s Grace and Wisdom in Difficult Times

I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, we have completed the planting of the dates trees." He came with me until we reached the plantation. We carried the trees to him and he would place them with his own hands, evening the ground around each one. By the One who sent him with the truth, not even one of those date palm trees died. And so, my debts were settled. I was left with some change.

Then, a man came from the mines bringing an egg-shaped lump of gold. The Messenger of Allah asked, “Where is the Persian convert to Islam, the freed slave?” I was summoned. He said, "This is for you, Salman. Pay it against what you owe."

I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, how could this small lump cover what I owe?" He assured me, "Indeed, Allah will settle your debts with it." By the One in whose hand is Salman's self, I weighed forty ounces from it and gave them to my creditors. I remained enslaved and missed the battles of Badr and Uhud because of it. Only after my liberation was I able to participate with the Prophet in the Battle of the Trench.

The Hypocrisy of the Quraysh and the Endurance of the Prophet

Al-Nader, son of Al-Harith, told his Quraysh tribesmen, "Muhammad lived among you as a respected and honest youngster, and was the most truthful and trustworthy among you. But as soon as he showed signs of early aging, and brought to you this new message, you called him a sorcerer. I swear by God he is not a magician."

Al-Wahidi has narrated that Maqatil said that Al-Harith, son of Amir, son of Nawfal, son of Abd Manaf, publicly denied the Prophet while privately admitted his truth amongst his family, "Muhammad is not a liar, and I believe he speaks the truth." Thus, Allah revealed to the prophet the verse that translates as: “We certainly know that their statements distress you. It is not that they belie you but it is the unjust who are in denial of Allah’s signs.”

The Approach of a Questioner

Anas ibn Malik reported that while we were sitting with the Prophet in the mosque, a man entered riding a camel. He tethered his camel in the mosque and then asked, "Which of you is Muhammad?"

The Prophet, who was sitting among us leaning against his robe, responded, "This man reclining on his robe is Muhammad."

The man asked, "Are you the son of Abdul Muttalib?" The Prophet replied, "Yes, I am the son of Abdul Muttalib."

The man then told the Prophet, "I will ask you some questions and I will be stern in questioning, do not take it personally."

Pursuit of Truth

Then he said, "Ask about what has become apparent to you." He said, "I ask you by your Lord and the Lord of those before you, did Allah send you to all people?" He said, "Indeed, Allah has." He further asked, "I implore you by Allah, has Allah commanded you to perform the five daily prayers?" He responded, "Indeed, Allah has." The man continued, "I implore you by Allah, has Allah commanded you to fast this month of the year?" The answer again was, "Indeed, Allah has." He went on, "I implore you by Allah, has Allah commanded you to take this charity from our wealthier people and distribute it amongst our poor?" The Prophet (Peace be upon him) replied, "Indeed Allah has."

Belief Established

The man declared, "I've believed in what you've brought. I am a messenger on behalf of my people. I am Dhamam bin Tha'labah, the brother of Bani Sa'd bin Bakr." From these extracts, which we have expanded here to cover some major companions' conversion to Islam, the signs of the sincere prophetic message were apparent, and the Prophet was at the forefront, upholding its duty at times. These signs, along with Muhammad's life and his high moral standard, drove the first companions towards Islam.

Prophecy Foretold

Indeed, the signs of prophethood, and evidence of the emergence of the Prophet, were written before his time. Abbas Mahmoud Al-Aqqad shares what the Indian historian "Mawlana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi" wrote in his book "Muhammad in the World's Religious Scriptures". He also quotes from the Ahmadiyya Indian community, then from the book "Fath al-Malik al-'Allam in the Glad Tidings of the Religion of Islam" by its authors: Ahmad Tarjuman and Muhammad Habib. In the beginning of light, Abdul Haq mentions that the name of the Arab Messenger "Ahmad" is written in Arabic in the SamaVida of the Brahmana Books, and it appears in the sixth and the eighth section of the second part about "Ahmad" receiving the law from...

The Battle of Makkah and the Prophecies Foretold

The narrative refers to the war involving the people of Makkah where an estimated twenty-six thousand nine hundred individuals, made up of the citizens of Makkah, tribal chiefs, and their deputies, suffered defeat. They were as they were on the day they fought against the Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him. The author demonstrates great patience as he aligns these events with the signs extracted from them, prophecies alongside prophecies, sufficient to spare him the necessity to explore all the coincidences and signs.

Zoroastrian Manuscripts and Prophecies:

Likewise, he delves into the Zoroastrian manuscripts, renowned as the "Magus books". From the Zoroastrian scripture of Zend Avesta, he extracts a prophecy regarding a Messenger described as "mercy for all worlds," a Persian term encapsulated as 'Soeshyant'. An enemy referred to as 'Abu Lahab' in ancient Persian terminology, whose exact name is 'Angra Mainyu', opposes Soeshyant. This Messenger advocates for the One God, who is unmatched "هيچ چيز باونمار", and has no beginning or end. He is without partner, friend, father, mother, spouse, offspring, son, dwelling, body, form, color, or scent—(جز آخاز وانجاز وانباز ودشمن ومانند ويار وبدر ومادر وزن وفرزند وحاي سوي وتن آسا وتناني ورنگ وبوي است»).

The Divine Characteristics in Islam:

These traits correlate with how God is described in Islam: He is One, Sustainer, unlike anything, has not begotten nor been begotten, has no rival and hasn't taken a spouse or offspring.

Zoroastrian References to the Awaited Prophet:

This is corroborated by myriad quotations from Zoroastrian books, foretelling of the life-call attended by the Promised Prophet, hinting at the Arabian desert. A translated summary into English would state: "When the people of Zoroastrianism abandon their religion, they falter and a man rises in the Arabian lands who defeats the Persian followers, humbles the arrogant Persians. After worshiping fire in their temples, they turn their faces toward the Kaaba of Abraham purified from idols, and henceforth they become followers of the Prophet, mercy for all worlds, and leaders".

The Three Manifestations

The passage discusses three manifestations: The manifestation in Sinai, which occurred in its time, the revelation in Sa`ir or Mount Ash`ar, which was manifested in the time of Jesus Christ. According to the Ahmadiyya community, this mountain is located where the sons of Jacob live, who were later famous as the sons of Ash`ar. The third manifestation is from the land of Paran, which is the hilly land between Medina and Mecca.

In the book Fasl al-Khitab, it is mentioned that the children revive the pilgrims in that land with the breezes from the "wilderness of Paran". The sons of Ishmael became a great nation as promised to Abraham, and they could no longer be accommodated on a strip of land on the borders of Canaan. There is no reason to deny their standing where the Arabs attributed to Ishmael resided, and no reason for them to falsely claim this lineage and trace it back to a slave girl from her master’s house.

The Descendants of Ishmael

In the Torah, the names of Ishmael's progeny who lived in the Arab lands are mentioned. Among them was Nebajoth or Nabaioth, the father of the Quraysh tribes. The commentator Katripikari confirms that he settled his progeny between Palestine and Yanbu`, the port of Yathrib. Ptolemy and Pliny confirm that the sons of Kedem - Kedar, the second son of Ishmael - settled in Hijaz, and the Jewish historian Josephus adds to them the sons of Adbeel, the third son in the old testament order.

There is no need for extensive research about the whereabouts of the sons of Dumah, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah, and most of their remaining brothers. The places attributed to them are still known by their names up to now. It is clearly evident from Isaiah's prophecy that predates the birth of Jesus Christ by seven hundred years that the sons of Ishmael resided in Hijaz. In this prophecy, the prophet Isaiah says in chapter 21: "A prophecy against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror... Bring water for the thirsty; you who live in Tema, bring food for the fugitives. They flee before battle from drawn sword, a battle grim with fierce fighting."

Interpretation of Defeat

The translators from the Ahmadiyya community return to interpret the defeat of Kedar as the defeat.

The Quraysh in The Battle of Badr

This passage discusses the defeat of the Quraysh at the Battle of Badr, an event that occurred around a year after the Prophet migrated to Medina. This could be likened to a year in a laborer's life. It links this prophecy with another from the fifth chapter of the Book of Isaiah, which proclaims:

"He will raise a banner for the distant nations and whistle for them from the ends of the earth. And here they come, quickly and swiftly. None are weary or stumble among them, they do not slumber or sleep. Their belts don't break, their sandals do not wear out. Their arrows are sharp, all their bows are drawn. The hooves of their horses are like flint, and their chariot wheels spin like a whirlwind."

This prophecy, about a messenger not from the land of Palestine, has been fulfilled by no one but the Prophet of Islam.

Further Prophecies

Along with this, there is another prophecy from the eighth chapter of the Book of Isaiah. It warns not to follow the ways of the people, stating that: "Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is your fear, and he is your dread. He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah, He will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. Many will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured." This prophecy, about a messenger who finalizes the divine law, has been fulfilled only by the Prophet of Islam, and not by any messenger that came before or after him.

Prophecy in Egypt

Alongside this, there is also a prophecy from the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Isaiah. It mentions Egypt's faith in the awaited messenger: "In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt."

Prophetic Narration from Egypt

For in the land of Egypt, as they cry out to the Lord because of the oppressors, He sends them a savior and a defender, and saves them. Thus, the Lord is known in Egypt, and the Egyptians know the Lord on that day, and they offer a sacrifice and a gift, and they make a vow to the Lord and fulfill it. The Lord strikes Egypt, both causing and curing affliction, and they turn back to the Lord, who responds to them and heals them.

On that day, there is a path from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians come into Egypt, and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians worship with the Assyrians. On that day, Israel will be a third to Egypt and to Assyria, a blessing in the heart of the earth, and the Lord of hosts blesses Israel, saying, "Blessed is my people Egypt, and the work of my hands Assyria, and my inheritance Israel."

As such, the events that unfolded with the arrival of people from Iraq to Egypt and the departure of people from Egypt to Iraq, took place under the banner of the Islamic call. Worship was not unified among them before this call, and indeed, the prophecy will be fulfilled tomorrow against the will of the children of Israel, when the blessing will be for Egypt and Assyria, and Israel will only follow both nations.

The Prophet's Transition to the Book of Daniel

Then they move with the prophecies to the book of Daniel, where it is written in the second chapter: "You, O king, were watching, and behold, there was a great statue. This enormous, dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome. The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, Its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you were watching, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them could be found. And the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth."

The Prophet Daniel's Interpretation of a Dream

The prophet Daniel gives his explanation for the dream: "You, O king, are the king of kings, as the God of heavens gave you dominion, power, and glory. Wherever humans live, or wild animals roam, or birds of the sky dwell, He handed them all into your control. You are this golden head. After you, another kingdom will rise, lesser than you, and another third kingdom of bronze will dominate all the earth. A fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron, for iron crushes and shatters everything. And like iron that shatters, it will crush and shatter all others. As for what you saw about the feet and toes, partly of clay and partly of iron, the kingdom will be divided; part of it will be as strong as iron, and part of it will be brittle. Just as you saw the iron mixed with the baked clay, the feet and toes were partly of iron and partly of clay, so part of the kingdom will be strong, and part of it will be brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, they will mingle with human seed, but they will not stick together, just as iron does not mix with clay. In the days of those kings, the God of heavens will set up an everlasting kingdom, and its rule will not be left to another people. It will crush and end all these kingdoms, but this kingdom will stand forever. You saw a stone cut from a mountain without human hands, and it broke the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold...the Almighty God has made the king understand what will come after this. The dream is true, and its interpretation is certain."

The Ahmadiyya Association’s Historical Insight on Prophet Daniel's Interpretation

The Ahmadiyya community looks to history to illuminate the meaning of Prophet Daniel's interpretation of this vision. Prophet Daniel's speech suggests that the golden head symbolizes the King of Babylon, and that the chest and arms made of silver represent the Kingdom of Persia and Media, which rose after the Babylonian state. Additionally, the legs made of bronze symbolize the Greek State under Alexander, which emerged after the rule of the Persians and Medes. Lastly, the iron feet symbolize the Roman State, which arose after Alexander's rule. The vision suggests that one foot of this final state is made of clay and the other of iron, which refers to parts of the state being located in Europe and other parts placed in different continents.

Ancient Prophesy and Islamic Ascendancy

The iron foot symbolizes the dominance of one nation and one belief. This supremacy encompasses vast regions and abundant resources. However, it harbors an innate weakness resulting from the disintegration among the nations' constituents.

Clearly, the prophecy points to the impending dissolution of the Roman Empire for this reason. This sets off a chain of events that lead to more significant and dangerous matters. It narrates: "You looked on until a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay and broke them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, silver, and gold were all shattered together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away, so that no trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the entire earth."

Islamic Prophecy Fulfilled

The community asserts, "This is a prophecy of the emergence of Islam. At the advent of the call to Islam, it clashed with the Roman Empire and then the Persian Empire. The Roman Empire at that time had extended its sovereignty over the kingdom of Alexander the Great, reaching its peak. The Persian Empire had extended its sovereignty over Babylon. Then the force of Islam struck both, and thus the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were all crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors."

So, the arrangement of the events and their expression in the vision of Daniel announce a prophecy with no doubt about its significance. We know that Babylon was succeeded by Persia and Media, and that the might of Persia and Media was broken by the might of Alexander. The rule of Alexander was succeeded by the Roman Empire, which set up from its capital of Constantinople the foundations of a European-Asian kingdom. Then, this kingdom was defeated, and Islamic conquest and the Prophet's invasions succeeded it."

The Stone in Daniel's Vision

And this stone mentioned in Daniel's vision is also referenced by Isaiah and the apostle Matthew. In the eighth chapter of the Book of Isaiah, it is that "it will be a holy place, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and many among them shall stumble."

Falling, Suspended and Picked Up

"They fall, get caught, and are picked up."

Passage from the Gospel of Matthew

In the Twenty-First chapter of Matthew's Gospel, it is written: "Therefore I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit-a people who honor its value, and whoever falls on this stone will be broken, but whoever it falls upon will be crushed."

As Mentioned in the Psalms

The One Hundred and Eighteenth Psalm also mentions: "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone."

The Prophecy

The words of Jesus Christ indicate that this prophecy correlates to a time different from his era, as he stated: "Have you never read in the scriptures, that the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This was done by the Lord, and it is a marvel in our eyes."

Daniel's Prophecy

The prophecy of Prophet Daniel leads to its conclusion, the stone becoming a vast mountain and filling the earth. After the spread of the Muhammadan Call, the noble Prophet Muhammad and his companions, indeed, instigated the defeat of Caesar and Khosrow; Muslims became the leaders of the whole civilized world during the era where the stone became a mighty mountain and followers of Muhammad took command for a thousand years.

Old Testament Prophecies

The prophecies of the Old Testament and prophecies of the New Testament compliment each other. The Ahmadiyya community corroborates the twenty-first chapter of Matthew's Gospel. According to Jesus Christ: "Hear another parable: There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and put a fence around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went away on a journey. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and beat some, killed some, and stoned others; and then he sent his son lastly, thinking, they will respect my son."

The Parable of the Unfaithful Workers

As for the vineyard workers, when they saw the son, they conspired among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir; let us kill him and take his inheritance.' They seized him, took him outside the vineyard, and killed him. So, when the vineyard owner comes, what will he do to those workers? They answered, 'He will severely punish those wretches and hand the vineyard over to other workers, who will deliver the fruits in their respective seasons.'

Jesus Speaks

Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the scriptures, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone?' This is the work of the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Therefore, I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruits. Whoever falls on this stone will be crushed, and whoever it falls upon will be ground to powder.' When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his parables, they realized he was speaking about them. Yet they wanted to arrest him but feared the crowds, for they perceived him as a prophet.

Interpretation of the Parable

This parable, explored in the translation of the Quran, argues that Lord Christ encapsulated the history of all prophets and apostles. The vineyard is the world, and the workers in it are humankind, laboring in their world. The fruits that the vineyard owner seeks are the fruits of virtue, good, and piety. The vineyard owner's dispatched servants to the workers are the apostles and prophets. When after their dismissal of the apostles and prophets, Lord Christ came to them, they betrayed and denied him. As a punishment, the vineyard was handed over to other workers, and God's kingdom was taken away from them to be given upon another nation, promised the blessing along with the nation of Isaac, which is the nation of Ishmael and his great prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. It is he and his people who were the rejected stone that has become the cornerstone of the building. Anyone who falls on it will be hurt, and anyone hurt by it will likewise be crushed.

A Prophecy in the Gospel of Matthew

Following this prophecy, there is a complementary one in the same Gospel where it is stated in Chapter 23 addressing the children of Israel, 'Behold, your house is left to you...'

John the Baptizer's Discourse with Priests and Levites

"Indeed, I tell you that you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' In the first chapter of the Gospel of John is the news of John the Baptizer, also known as John the Baptist, along with the priests and Levites: They asked him, 'Who are you?' He confessed and did not deny. 'I am not the Messiah,' he said. They asked him then, 'Are you Elijah?' 'No', he responded. 'Are you the Prophet?' To which he answered, 'No'. 'Who are you then?' they asked him, 'We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?' He said, 'I am a voice crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'' as said Isaiah the prophet."

The Quranic Translators on Prophecies

The preface of the Quranic translation follows these prophecies, stating that there were three in the Christian era as clearly seen from the questions and answers: A prophecy about the return of Elijah, a prophecy about the birth of the Messiah, and a prophecy about another promised prophet other than Elijah and the Messiah.

The Messiah declared, as it came in the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew: "Indeed, all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, this - referring to John the Baptizer - is Elijah, the one supposed to come."

Zachariah's Promise

In the first chapter of Luke's Gospel, the angel announces to Zachariah that his wife will give him a son named John. "He will be great in the sight of the Lord, will not drink wine or strong drink, and will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn back towards the Lord their God. And he will go on before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children."

The Messianic Assertion

In the ninth chapter of Mark's Gospel, the Messiah says: "Indeed, Elijah has come and they did unto him whatever they desired, as it is written about him."

The Prophecy of Elijah in Matthew's Gospel

The text talks about a prophecy mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew where it states: "Indeed, Elijah came and they did not recognize him and did whatever they wanted with him." Therefore, the Prophet Elijah arrived before the era of Christian birth and was followed by Christ, and then the promised Prophet remained. After the ascendance of Lord Christ, only Mohammed, peace be upon him, came to be recognized as the promised prophet.

The Comforter Prophecy in John's Gospel

In John's Gospel, chapter sixteen, Jesus tells his followers, "It is better for you that I depart, for if I don't, the Comforter will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. About sin, because they don't believe in me; about righteousness, because I'm going to my Father, and you won't see me anymore; about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. I have much more to tell you, but you can't bear them now. When He comes, the Spirit of Truth, He will guide you into all the truth. He doesn't speak on His own, but only what He hears does He speak and He tells you about the things to come. He will glorify me, for He will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That's why I said that He will take what is mine and reveal it to you. After a while, you will no longer see me."

Islam's Prophet Praises Jesus

The Prophet of Islam came praising Jesus, calling him a Spirit from God, and renewing his message as it is God's message.

The Ahmadiyya Community's Analysis

Following various interpretations as mentioned, the Ahmadiyya Community concludes its research by pointing to the events mentioned in the third chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. This tells of prophecies from Samuel to Jesus of the emergence of a law-bearing Prophet like Moses, who would fulfill the promise to Abraham's descendants and bless all tribes of the Earth. This prophet would be from the brethren of the children of Israel, not directly from them. He would belong to the lineage of Ishmael, not Isaac. The children of India and Persia have been following this path as we have presented.

Delving into the Mysteries of Words and Phenomena

The scholars sought to uncover the secrets of words and letters, compare themes and interpretations, and complete different parts using assorted parts found across various sources and narratives. But they were not alone in their investigation of these prophecies and predictions. Researchers from all nations joined them, culminating in the book "Conquest of the Knowledgeable King in the Good Tidings of the Religion of Islam". Here, they collated material not mentioned in previous Indian research or explored from a different approach. We summarize some of this material below, noting that a thorough investigation would span over 260 pages.

Interpretation of Genesis: Chapter 25

The authors relied on the twenty-fifth chapter of Genesis, which states that the sons of Ishmael dwelt "from Havilah unto Shur, which is before Egypt, as thou goest toward Assyria". They are therefore the residents of Hijaz, as Hijaz is the land between Shur and Havilah. Havilah was in Yemen, as stipulated in the tenth chapter: "And Joktan begat Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Obal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan", the inhabitants of the Yemeni land.

The Promise to Abraham in Genesis

They also relied on the promise given to Abraham in Genesis: "In Isaac shall thy seed be called and the son of the bondwoman will I also make a nation because he is thy seed". This promise to Isaac's descendants depends on following God’s commandments and exclusively worshiping Him. Otherwise, they would quickly be expelled from the good land, as stated in the eleventh chapter in Deuteronomy. The people worshiped gods other than Allah and used idols and statues, as frequently mentioned in the books of the Old Testament.

Reflections on the Vision of Prophet Daniel

The authors cited Prophet Daniel's vision from the ninth chapter: “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity”.

The Miracle of the Qur'an

The miracle of the Qur'an remains as long as the heavens and the earth alternates generations. As science progresses, revealing the secrets of Allah's universe, and each generation thought it had reached its peak, the Qur'an extends high and towering. It says, "Say, if mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they were to each other assistants [Qur'an]."

If a non-Muslim nation believed in this religion today without needing to validate a miracle other than the Qur'an to believe, there would be no deficiency in its faith nor lack in its Islam. The Qur'an has guided many to the truth, both in the early days of preaching and in recent times in the era we live in, regardless of their different backgrounds and varying specializations. They have been able to draw from its abundance, comprehend its light, and each of them recognizes a secret of its secrets.

Signs of the Prophets

Ibn Khaldun mentions in his study on the signs of the Prophets: "Among their signs also, are occurrences of miracles for them, bearing witness to their truth. These are actions that humans cannot replicate, thus they are called miracles, and they are not from the genus of the power of the servants, but occur out of their realm of power. Once this is acknowledged, know that the greatest of miracles, the most honorable, and clear in indication: The Holy Qur'an, revealed to our Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Most miracles counter the revelation received by the prophet, and the miracle comes as a witness authenticating it. But the Qur'an itself is the claimed revelation, and it is the breaking miracle, so its witness in his eyes, and it does not require a contrary proof like other miracles with revelation, so it is the clearest indication of the union of the evidence and the indicated in it." [1]

[1] Refer to The Miracle of the Qur'an by Al-Rafi'i, and The Rhetorical Miracle in the Qur'an by Dr. Aisha Abdul Rahman.

Master of Loyalty on Quranic Miracles

The author discusses the miraculous nature of the Quran, revealing two amazing meanings: One is that the miracles of Prophets disappeared with their deaths. If a skeptic today asked, "What is the proof of Muhammad and Moses's truthfulness?" and he is told that Muhammad split the moon and Moses split the sea, he would say: this is impossible. So, Allah made this Quran a miracle for Muhammad, peace be upon him, eternally. Hence, his truthfulness is evident even after his death, and it serves as proof of the truthfulness of all Prophets, confirming their messages and informing us about their circumstances.

Secondly, it informed the People of the Book that the description of Muhammad, peace be upon him, is written in their Torah and Gospel. It bore witness for a woodcutter's faith and Aisha's innocence; testimonies about the unseen. If his description was not present in the Torah and Gospel, it would have been a deterrent from believing in him. If the woodcutter and Aisha knew otherwise than what their testimonies bore, they would have turned away from faith.

French Author on the Miracle of the Quran

A French author and convert to Islam who wrote a lot about Islam, "Atiyya Dinih", discusses the miracle of the Quran in his book "Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah". He states that the miracles of the Prophets who preceded Muhammad were actually temporary miracles, and therefore, are subject to quick forgetfulness. However, we can call the miracle of the Quranic verse "the Eternal Miracle" because its impact is permanent and its effect is continuous. It's easy for every believer, in all times and places, to see this miracle simply by reciting the Book of Allah.

In this miracle, we find the ultimate reasoning for the spread of Islam. This expansion is often not understood by Europeans because they either do not know of the Quran or only know of it through lifeless and inaccurate translations. This book, unique among all others, has a captivating appeal.

Belief of Muslims and Opinions of Orientalists

We Muslims do not need to justify our acceptance of the Quran as a universal guide, as we believe it to be the word of God revealed to his messenger. However, it is interesting to share the opinions of two well-known Orientalists.

The first one, "Savary", who translated the Quran into French, said: "Muhammad was highly fluent in his language, a language that is so rich and harmonious, and can follow the thought through its distant flight and define it with extreme precision. It's as though it is musical, mimicking the sounds of various animals, the murmur of flowing water, the roar of thunder, and the howling of the wind."

Muhammad's Mastery Over Language

Muhammad was, as mentioned, highly skilled in this timeless language, adorned with many masterpieces from the poets. Muhammad strived to embellish his teachings with all the beauty and magic that eloquence could offer.

Prestige of Poetry and Poets

In Arabia, poets held the highest regard. Labid bin Rabia, a famous poet, even had one of his poems displayed on the door of the Kaaba. His popularity and poetic skills were so immense that no competitors dared to challenge him for the prize. Yet, one day, next to his poem, the second Surah of the Quran (some say the fifty-fifth surah) was placed. Labid was extremely impressed with it despite being a polytheist, and upon reading the initial verses, he admitted his defeat and soon embraced Islam.

Transformation with Quranic Revelation

One day, when his admirers asked him about his poems, hoping to compile them in a book, Labid replied: "I don't remember anything of my poetry, because the magnificence of the revealed verses has left no place for anything else in my memory."