MUKADDIMAH · M34
Chapter 12 — Muhammad ﷺ: The Bearer of Allah’s Risalah
After understanding the Shahadah as witnessing, the next question is:
WHO IS MUHAMMAD ﷺ, THE ONE WITNESSED IN THE SECOND DECLARATION?
Do not stop at the name.
Do not stop at history.
Do not stop at the bashar.
Bashar = human being.
The Quran itself states:
قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
“Say: Indeed, I am only a human being like you. It is revealed to me that your Ilah is One Ilah. So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him do good deeds and not associate anyone in his devotion to his Lord.”
— Al-Kahfi 18:110
The verse does not stop at:
أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ
“I am a human being like you.”
It continues with:
يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ
“It is revealed to me.”
This is where witnessing must move forward.
Do not stop at the human being.
Reach:
THE BEARER OF ALLAH’S RISALAH
⸻
MUHAMMAD ﷺ IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH
The text is very clear:
مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّهِ
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
— Al-Fath 48:29
He is the Bearer of Allah’s Risalah.
The Risalah carries the descriptions and explanations of:
ESSENCE
ATTRIBUTES
ACTIONS
⸻
HE WAS SENT AS A WITNESS
Allah states:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ شَاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَدَاعِيًا إِلَى اللَّهِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَسِرَاجًا مُّنِيرًا
“O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, a warner, one who calls to Allah by His permission, and as an illuminating lamp.”
— Al-Ahzab 33:45–46
This connects directly with Chapter 11:
SHAHADAH → WITNESSING → WITNESS → BEARER OF THE RISALAH
⸻
“MUHAMMAD IS NOT THE FATHER OF ANY OF YOUR MEN”
This is an important text to include:
مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets. And Allah is All-Knowing of all things.”
— Al-Ahzab 33:40
Notice the structure.
The verse negates:
أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ
“the father of any of your men”
and then immediately affirms:
وَلَٰكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ
“But the Messenger of Allah.”
This is very important.
Do not stop at understanding Muhammad ﷺ through physical lineage.
The verse redirects attention towards his identity as:
رَسُولَ اللَّهِ
THE BEARER OF ALLAH’S RISALAH
⸻
WANT TO KNOW ALLAH?
The Quran states:
مَّن يُطِعِ الرَّسُولَ فَقَدْ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has indeed obeyed Allah.”
— An-Nisa’ 4:80
And:
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعُونِي يُحْبِبْكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“Say: If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
— Ali ‘Imran 3:31
Therefore, the path is very clear:
WANT TO KNOW ALLAH?
KNOW THE BEARER OF ALLAH’S RISALAH.
Do not stop at the bashar.
Do not stop at lineage.
Do not stop at the name.
Reach:
MUHAMMAD ﷺ — THE BEARER OF ALLAH’S RISALAH.