Book: Dalail an-Nubuwwah by Bayhaqi

طرق في إثبات النبوة

Chapter: Methods in Proving Prophecy

Volume: intro (Page:12)

English:

Methods in Proving Prophethood

The Qur'anic Method of Proving Prophethood:

The Qur'anic method of asserting prophethood involves presenting multiple evidences that lead to certainty. The Holy Qur'an challenged Arabs and non-Arabs, humans and jinn alike, to produce something similar to it, or even just a Surah akin to it. As stated in the Qur'an in Al-Baqarah (2:23), "And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a Surah like it."

Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was among them for forty years before his prophethood, during which he did not proclaim prophethood or deliver any message. This matter is subject only to the will of Allah. As narrated in the Qur'an, Yunus (10:16), "Say, if Allah had willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor would He have made it known to you, for I had remained among you a lifetime before it. Will you not then understand?"

This Prophet (peace be upon him) was raised amongst them, grew up in their sight and hearing. They knew him for his truthfulness, trustworthiness, sound judgement, and they had never known him to lie. Allah says: "Say, I exhort you to one thing - that you stand for Allah, [considering it] in pairs and individually, and then give thought. There is not with your companion any madness. He is only a warner to you before a severe punishment." [Saba-46]

So why is there doubt about his matter even though he was free from all worldly desires? "Say, 'What I ask from you in return is for you. My reward is only from Allah, and He is on everything a Witness'." [Saba-47]

And why doubt his matter, when he was unlettered, being unable to read or write and could not have gathered information from any book?"You did not use to recite before it any scripture, nor did you inscribe one with your right hand. Otherwise, the falsifiers would have cause for doubt." [Ankaboot-48]

Arabic:

[طرق في إثبات النبوة][طريقة القرآن في إثبات النبوة:]الطريقة القرآنية في إثبات النبوة هي إيراد أدلة كثيرة تتكاتف لتؤدي إلى اليقين.فالقرآن الكريم تحدى العرب والعجم، والإنس والجن أن يأتوا بمثله، أو بسورة من مثله وَإِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِي رَيْبٍ مِمَّا نَزَّلْنا عَلى عَبْدِنا فَأْتُوا بِسُورَةٍ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ ... [البقرة- ٢٣] وقد بعث رسول صلى الله عليه وسلم فيهم أربعين عاما، فلم يحدثهم بنبوة ولا برسالة! فهذا الأمر يخضع لمشيئة الله فقط.قُلْ لَوْ شاءَ اللَّهُ ما تَلَوْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلا أَدْراكُمْ بِهِ، فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُراً مِنْ قَبْلِهِ أَفَلا تَعْقِلُونَ [يونس- ١٦] . فهذا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلّم قد نشأ بينهم، وترعرع على مرأى ومسمع منهم بل كانوا يعرفونه بالصدق والأمانة، ورجاحة العقل، ولم يعهدوا عليه كذبا، قال تعالى:قُلْ إِنَّما أَعِظُكُمْ بِواحِدَةٍ أَنْ تَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ مَثْنى وَفُرادى، ثُمَّ تَتَفَكَّرُوا ما بِصاحِبِكُمْ مِنْ جِنَّةٍ إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عَذابٍ شَدِيدٍ [سبأ- ٤٦] .فلم الشك في أمره مع أنه قد تجرد عن كل مطمع دنيوي. قُلْ مَا سَأَلْتُكُمْ مِنْ أَجْرٍ فَهُوَ لَكُمْ إِنْ أَجْرِيَ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ وَهُوَ عَلى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ [سبأ- ٤٧] .ولم الشك في أمره وهو أمي لا يقرأ ولا يكتب، ولا يمكن أن يستمدّ من كتاب.وَما كُنْتَ تَتْلُوا مِنْ قَبْلِهِ مِنْ كِتابٍ، وَلا تَخُطُّهُ بِيَمِينِكَ إِذاً لَارْتابَ

Vols: Intro, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Chapters