By Samir Khan
“Indeed, We have sent our Messengers with clear signs, and we sent down with them the Book and the Balance so that men might uphold justice” (Holy Qur’an – 57:25)

Thus spoke Almighty Allah about the mission of His Messengers. Right from the dawn of human life, from the time of Prophet Adam (peace be on him), who was the first man and also the first Prophet, up to the last Messenger Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him), innumerable Prophets and Messengers were sent to different people, in different lands, at different stages of human history. The only message they preached, “Worship and obey God! You have no God other than Almighty Allah.” Some of these great guides of humanity are known to us, but a very large number are not known as they had come even before the twilight of human history. They are great divinely inspired souls from one single golden chain of divine guides. Prophet Nuh (Noah), Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham), Prophet Musa (Moses), Prophet Isa (Jesus) (may peace be upon all of them), were the most prominent amongst these divinely ordained benefactors of humanity. They received the word of God, preached and practiced it and struggled hard to shape society on the basis of moral principles revealed to them.
The last and the greatest amongst them, who changed the world, brought about a successful revolution in the world of thought and action and started a new phase of human civilization was Prophet Muhammad (May peace and blessings of God be upon him). He was born in 570 AD in Makkah. In a country where there were only a few educated people, he did not have the benefit of even rudimentary literacy. He tended flocks of sheep and goats in his boyhood, and became a small businessman in his youth. He led an ordinary, simple, pure and gentle life. The high moral character of the Prophet was the reason why Arabs used to call him “Al-Ameen” (the trustworthy). At the age of 40 he received the divine command through Archangel Jibrael (Gabrial) and was entrusted with the great task of calling the entire humanity to Islam, the religion of Prophet Adam, the religion of Prophet Nuh, the religion of prophet Ibrahim, and prophet Isa (may be peace upon all of them), the religion of submission and surrender to One True God. He had to face numerous hardships to propagate the message of God. He faced all the odds with high degree of patience and perseverance. In a short span of 23 years he conquered the hearts and minds of the Arabs.   The mission of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was universal and his message was to the entire humankind and to all ages to come. He laid the foundation of a civilization that united humankind into one strong composite ideal community to enjoin righteousness on all and prevent them from misdeed. (Holy Qur’an – 3:110).
The people of the Arabian Peninsula were divided into groups, cliques, bands, and tribes on the basis of creed, color, descent and other primordial loyalties. Each of them considered itself superior to the others. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) removed all artificial distinctions between human beings and united them under the banner of Islam, the system of life, given by the Creator. He exhorted the people that human beings are the progeny of Adam and as such they constitute one family. In a society were women were ill-treated, where new born baby girls were buried alive, the teachings of Islam gave women a fresh lease of life and gave them a high status.
The message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) revolutionised the life of the people. They paid heed to the message conveyed by the Prophet, completely submitted to the Divine will and began to seek the pleasure and mercy of the Lord. Thus, they embraced goodness, virtue and truthfulness. They turned their backs on vice and evil, expressed sympathy and love to other fellow beings and established peace and harmony in society. The world has never seen a revolution like the one brought about by him. He is undisputedly recognised as the greatest messenger, the wisest statesman, the most accomplished philosopher, the most efficient law-giver, the ablest administrator general, and warrior, the most successful reformer and above all the most magnificent conqueror of ideas and the most revolutionary leader of mankind.
The present world, in spite of its claim of enlightenment, knowledge and delusion of high moral values, is witnessing the worst type of ignorance, oppression and deviation from the path of God. Power, money and sex are the new Gods. Growth and profit are the motives behind all human endeavors. The message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is more relevant to the present times as it can transform, with its miraculous touch, the selfish and materialistic society into a God-conscious, God-oriented and a just society in which men and women are righteous and dutiful, and their hearts are full of milk of human kindness.
It’s our moral duty and responsibility to turn a new leaf, light a new lamp and to call upon the people to the message of God and mould our society as enjoined upon and practically established by the Holy Prophet.