100 Proofs That Islam Is True (Part 4): The Truthfulness of Al-Amin
Mufti Faijullah Aman
Introduction
When someone makes a great claim, the first thing we look at is the person: is he truthful or a liar? Muhammad (peace be upon him) made the greatest claim in the world: "I am the Messenger of God." So examining his character and truthfulness is the first step to understanding this claim.
The Witness of Forty Years
Before receiving prophethood, the Prophet (peace be upon him) spent forty years in Makkah. During this long time he traded, dealt with people, and settled disputes. No one ever heard him tell a lie, and no one ever saw him betray a trust. That is why all of Makkah gave him the title "Al-Amin," the Trustworthy One. Even after prophethood, those who became his bitter enemies still left their valuables with him for safekeeping. On the very night of his migration, he still held the trusts of the people of Makkah, and he left Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) behind to return them.
Allah commanded the Prophet to remind people of this very fact: "I have lived among you a whole lifetime before this. Will you not then use reason?" (Surah Yunus 10:16)
The Incident at Mount Safa
At the start of his public call, the Prophet (peace be upon him) climbed Mount Safa and called all the clans of Quraysh. Then he asked: "If I told you that an army of horsemen behind this hill is ready to attack you, would you believe me?" They all said with one voice: "Yes, we have never known you to lie." Then he said: "Then listen, I am warning you of a severe punishment ahead." (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Notice that just a moment before he announced his prophethood, all of Quraysh bore witness to his truthfulness.
The Testimony of an Enemy
The most valuable testimony is the testimony of an enemy. After the migration, when Abu Sufyan was one of the Prophet's greatest enemies, the Roman emperor Heraclius summoned him to his court and asked him many questions about the Prophet. One question was: "Did you ever accuse him of lying before he made his claim?" Abu Sufyan was forced to admit: "No."
Heraclius then said: "I understood that a man who does not lie to people would never lie about God." (Sahih al-Bukhari)
This reasoning of a non-Muslim emperor still applies to every thinking person today.
What Did His Enemies Really Deny?
Allah comforted the Prophet, saying: "It is not you they call a liar; rather, the wrongdoers deny the signs of Allah." (Surah al-An'am 6:33)
In other words, the leaders of Makkah knew that Muhammad (peace be upon him) did not lie. Their problem was the message he brought, which shook the foundations of their idol worship, their pride, and their power.
What Reason Demands
Now think: why would a man who had not told a single lie for forty years suddenly tell the greatest lie of all? And a lie that would cost him being cast out by his society, being stoned, leaving his homeland, and losing his loved ones? Liars lie for benefit. Yet through this call he lost everything of this world and gained nothing of it.
Conclusion
When a man's truthfulness is confirmed by his family, his people, and even his greatest enemy, there is no reason left to reject his words. When he said, "I am the Messenger of God," he was telling the truth then too.
In the next part, the fifth proof, in sha Allah.
