If we compare the life of muhammad before his mission, As a prophet and his life after he began his mission as a prophet, we will conclude that ti is beyond reason to think that muhammad was a false prophet, who claimed prophethood for material gains, greatness, glory, or power.
Before his mission as a prophet, muhammad had no financial worries. As a succesfull and reputed merchant. Muhammad drew a satisfactory and confortable incame. After his mission as a prophet and because of it, he became worse of materially. To clarify this more, let us browse the following sayings on his life : sahl ibnu sa’ad one of muhammad companion said “the prophet of god did not see bread made from fine flour from the time god sent him (as a prophet) until he died”.
Amr ibnu al-hareth, one of muhammad’s componions, said that when the prophet died, he left no money nor anything else except his white riding mule, his arms, and a piece of land which he left to charity.
Muhammad lifed this hard life till he died although the muslim treasury was at his dispossal, the greater part of the arabiian peninsula was muslim before he died, and the muslim where fictorious after eigh teen years of his mission.
Is it possible that muhammad might have claimed prophethood in order to attain status, greatness, and power? The desire to enjoy status and power is usually associated with good food, fancy clothing, monumental palaces, colorfull guards, and indisputable authority. Do any of this indicators apply to muhammad? A few glimpses of his life that may help answer this question follow.
Despitehis responsibilites as a prophet, a teacher, a statesman, and a judge, Muhammad used to milk his goat, mend his clotes, repair his shoes, help with the householld work, and visit poor people when theygot sick. He also helped his companions in digging a trench by moving sand with them. His life was an amazing model of siplicity and humbleness.
Muhammad was loved and trusted by hisfollowers. They respected him to an amazing extent. Yet, he continued to emphasize that de infication should be directed to god and not him personally. It was said by anas, one of Muhammad’s companios, that there was no person whom they loved more than Muhammad, yet when he came to them, they did not stand up for him because he hated their standing up for him, as other people do with their great people.
Long before there was any prospecpect of success for islam and painful era of forture, suffering, and persecution of Muhammad and his followers, he was given an interesting offer. An envoy of the pagan leaders. Otba, came ti him saying”… if you want money , we will collect enough money for you so that you will be the richest one of us. If you want leadership, we will take you as our leader and never decide qn any matter without your approval. If you want a kingdom, we will crown you king over us ….” Only one conces sion was required from Muhammad in retum for that, to give up calling peple to islam and worshipping God alone without any partner. Wouldn’t tkis offer be tempting to one pursuing worldly benefit? Was Muhammad hesitant whe n the offerwas made? Did he turn it down as a bargaining strategy leaving the door open for a better offer? The following was his.
Answer . (in the name of god, the most gracious, the most merciful). And he recited the verses of the Qur’an 41”1-38 to otba. The following are some of these verses.
(Arevelation frm (god). The most graious. The most merciful;a book whereof the verses are explained in detail, a qur’an in arabic. For people who know .giving good news and warnning yet most of them turn away. So they do not listen) (Qur’an. 41: 2-4)
These all just show the propheth’s humbleness and nobility during his struggle to spreadthe message of islam.
Adapted from:A Briel illustrated Guide to understanding Islam.
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