𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐝 (𝐏𝐁𝐔𝐇) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐐𝐮𝐫’𝐚𝐧

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✍️𝐃𝐫. 𝐌𝐝. 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐙𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫  

There exists a conception among people in general about the prophet Muhammad (PBUH i.e. peace be upon him) that he is the prophet of Muslims only. Similarly, there is also a conception that the Holy Qur’an is a book of guidance for Muslims only. Due to these conceptions, many people don’t take benefits out of the Holy Qur’an, and the teachings of the Holy prophet Muhammad (PBUH) which are preserved in the books of Hadith (narration of the sayings and actions of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Seerah (i.e. biography and way of living of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Also, due to these conceptions, some people who have not understood the Islam and the holy Prophet directly from the Holy scripture and other authentic sources, say wrong words for the Prophet and treat the Holy Qur’an in a manner, no scripture should be treated. That’s why, it becomes necessary to critically evaluate the above conceptions in the light of the Holy Qur’an.

When we go through the Holy Qur’an, we observe that the scripture never declares Muhammad (PUBH) as the prophet of Muslims, rather it declares him as the prophet of humanity. The Holy Qur’an says:

قُلۡ یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ اِنِّیۡ رَسُوۡلُ اللّٰہِ اِلَیۡکُمۡ جَمِیۡعَا ۨ الَّذِیۡ لَہٗ مُلۡکُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ۚ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ یُحۡیٖ وَ یُمِیۡتُ ۪ فَاٰمِنُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ وَ رَسُوۡلِہِ النَّبِیِّ الۡاُمِّیِّ الَّذِیۡ یُؤۡمِنُ بِاللّٰہِ وَ کَلِمٰتِہٖ وَ اتَّبِعُوۡہُ لَعَلَّکُمۡ تَہۡتَدُوۡنَ ﴿الاعراف: ١٥٨﴾

"Say, [O Muhammad], "O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death." So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him so that you may be guided aright." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-A'raf 7: 158]

At another place the Holy Qur’an says:

وَ مَاۤ  اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ  اِلَّا کَآفَّۃً  لِّلنَّاسِ بَشِیۡرًا وَّ نَذِیۡرًا وَّ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا  یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ ﴿سبا : ٢٨﴾

"(O Prophet) And We have not sent you except comprehensively to mankind as a bringer of good tidings and a warner. But most of the people do not know." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Saba 34: 28]

At yet another place the Holy Qur’an says:

وَ مَاۤ  اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ اِلَّا رَحۡمَۃً  لِّلۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ ﴿الأنبياء : ١٠٧﴾

"And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the whole world." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Anbiya 21: 107]

In light of the above verses one can easily conclude that the viewpoint that the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah towards Muslims only, is absolutely wrong. I mean, it’s a misconception. In fact the people who accept him as the last messenger of Allah towards humanity, are termed as “Muslims” which means obedient. So the Muslims are the people who have surrendered voluntarily before the commandments of Allah and the Holy Prophet. Those who don’t accept the above mentioned fact are free to do so as there is no compulsion in religion but their stand does not nullify the fact that Muhammad (PBUH) is the prophet of humanity including the disbelievers as well.

Similarly, when one enquires about the claims of the Holy Qur’an concerning itself, one finds that it never claims itself as the book of guidance for the Muslims only rather for the whole mankind. For example see this verse:

شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ فِیۡہِ الۡقُرۡاٰنُ ہُدًی لِّلنَّاسِ وَ بَیِّنٰتٍ مِّنَ الۡہُدٰی وَ الۡفُرۡقَانِ ﴿البقرة : ١٨٥﴾

"The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind and with clear Signs of the true guidance and as the criterion (between right and wrong)." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 185]

At another place the Holy Qur’an proclaims:

ہٰذَا بَلٰغٌ  لِّلنَّاسِ وَ لِیُنۡذَرُوۡا بِہٖ وَ لِیَعۡلَمُوۡۤا اَنَّمَا ہُوَ  اِلٰہٌ  وَّاحِدٌ  وَّ لِیَذَّکَّرَ اُولُوا  الۡاَلۡبَابِ ﴿إبراهيم : ٥٢﴾

"This [Qur'an] is notification (or message) for all mankind that they may be warned thereby and that they may know that He is but one God and that those of understanding will be reminded." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Ibrahim 14: 52]

Similarly, addressing the prophet, Almighty Allah tells him that the book which has been revealed upon you is for the whole of mankind and it is his duty to explain its messages to all of humanity. Recite the following verse:

 وَ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ  اِلَیۡکَ الذِّکۡرَ  لِتُبَیِّنَ  لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ  اِلَیۡہِمۡ وَ لَعَلَّہُمۡ  یَتَفَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿النحل : ٤٤﴾

"And We revealed to you (O Prophet) the reminder (i.e. the Qur’an) that you may make clear to mankind what has been sent down to them and that they might give thought." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Nahl 16: 44]

At another place the Holy Qur’an says:

اِنَّاۤ  اَنۡزَلۡنَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ لِلنَّاسِ بِالۡحَقِّ ۚ فَمَنِ اہۡتَدٰی فَلِنَفۡسِہٖ ۚ وَ مَنۡ ضَلَّ  فَاِنَّمَا یَضِلُّ عَلَیۡہَا  ۚ وَ  مَاۤ  اَنۡتَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ  بِوَکِیۡلٍ ﴿الزمر: ٤١﴾

"(O Prophet) Indeed, We have sent down to you the Book with the Truth for the whole mankind. So whoever is guided - it is for [the benefit of] his soul; and whoever goes astray only goes astray to its detriment. And you are not a custodian over them." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Zumur 39: 41]

Not only this, Almighty Allah has addressed the whole mankind directly to say that the Holy Qur'an is the book comprising instructions from their Lord for their divine guidance. Recite the following verse:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَتۡکُمۡ  مَّوۡعِظَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ وَ شِفَآءٌ لِّمَا فِی الصُّدُوۡرِ ۬ ۙ وَ ہُدًی  وَّ رَحۡمَۃٌ   لِّلۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ ﴿يونس : ٥٧﴾

"O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Yunus 10: 57]

At another place the Holy Qur'an says:

یٰۤاَیُّہَا النَّاسُ قَدۡ جَآءَکُمۡ  بُرۡہَانٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّکُمۡ وَ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکُمۡ نُوۡرًا مُّبِیۡنًا ﴿النساء : ١٧٤﴾

"O mankind, there has come to you a conclusive proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear light (i.e. Holy Qur'an)." [Holy Qur'an, Surah Al-Nisa 4: 174]

All the above quoted verses dispel the misconception that the Holy Qur'an is the book of guidance for the Muslims only, rather it establishes the fact that it’s a book of guidance for the whole mankind, whether someone accepts it or not. So the people who say wrong words for the prophet Muhammad (PUBH) or try to disgrace him, actually do so unknowingly to their own prophet. Similarly the people who treat the Holy Qur'an badly, do so unknowingly to their own divine scripture. Since they have free will in this world, they can easily reflect the above misconducts but in the world hereafter they will have to regret and repent but of no value because any pious deed acceptable to the God is only of this world. The final decision of Heaven and Hell has to be made on the basis of beliefs and deeds adopted in this world only. After observing the world hereafter, every person will become a believer but this will not benefit him. 

So the people who try to disgrace the prophet Muhammad (PUBH) or the Holy Qur’an actually inflict ultimate harm to themselves. Their misconduct can not inflict any harm to the Prophet or any damage to Islam. They must realize that Islam is the divine religion and the Holy Qur’an is in the breasts of millions of Muslims. It will necessarily prevail till the day of judgments. As soon as they realize it, it will be in their own benefit. By burning the Holy Qur’an, they can not make Islam disappear from this world.

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