100 Proofs That Islam Is True (Part 5): The Prophet Who Did Not Want the World
Mufti Faijullah Aman
Introduction
Throughout history, many people have claimed to be prophets, incarnations, or representatives of God. Almost all of them sought power, wealth, fame, or pleasure. So one simple test of any claimant is this: what did he gain in this world from his claim? The life of Muhammad (peace be upon him) gives a unique answer to this test.
The Offer of Utbah
When the Prophet's call was spreading in Makkah, the leaders of Quraysh sent Utbah ibn Rabi'ah to him. Utbah said: "If you want wealth, we will give you so much that you will be the richest among us. If you want leadership, we will make you our leader. If you want kingship, we will make you our king." There was only one condition: he must stop this call.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not bargain. In reply, he recited the opening verses of Surah Fussilat. Utbah went back and told Quraysh that he had heard words that were neither poetry nor magic, and advised them to leave this man to his path. (Sirah Ibn Hisham)
The Sun and the Moon
The books of Sirah report that when Quraysh pressured him through his uncle Abu Talib, the Prophet said: "Uncle, by Allah, if they placed the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, I would not abandon this mission until Allah makes it prevail or I die in its path."
In the Qur'an, Allah instructed the Prophet to declare: "Say: I ask you no reward for it. It is only a reminder for all the worlds." (Surah al-An'am 6:90)
After Power Came to Him
Someone might say that perhaps he refused small offers in hope of something greater. So let us look at how he lived when the entire Arabian Peninsula came under his authority.
Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said that one month, then two months would pass without a fire being lit for cooking in the Prophet's house. Their food was only dates and water. (Sahih al-Bukhari)
One day Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) entered the Prophet's room and found him lying on a mat of palm leaves, with its marks pressed into his blessed body. In the room there was nothing but a little barley and a hanging leather skin. Umar began to weep and said: the kings of Persia and Rome live in such luxury, while you, the Messenger of Allah, live like this! The Prophet replied: "Are you not pleased that they have this world and we have the Hereafter?" (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Even at the time of his death, his armor was pawned to a Jewish man in exchange for some barley. (Sahih al-Bukhari)
He Left No Inheritance
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "We (prophets) leave no inheritance; whatever we leave behind is charity." (Sahih al-Bukhari) In other words, he did not even store up wealth for his own family. Rulers who build empires leave kingdoms to their descendants, but he left behind only the Qur'an and his Sunnah.
What Reason Demands
Behind every lie there is some personal interest. So the question is: what did Muhammad (peace be upon him) gain from his claim to prophethood? Not wealth, for he lived in poverty. Not comfort, for he slept on a mat. Not safety, for he was persecuted and wounded in battle. He even refused an offer that would have made him king without any struggle. A man who rejected every temptation of this world has no reason left to lie.
Conclusion
The life of the Prophet proves that he did not come for this world. He came with a mission that Allah had entrusted to him. And this selfless life bears witness that he truly was the Messenger of Allah.
In the next part, the sixth proof, in sha Allah.
