The Great Awakening: The Mission of Prophet Muhammad
How the Prophet and his Family Saved Humanity By the Grace of Allah
The mission of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) was not just a historical event that happened long ago. It was a wake-up call for the whole world.
If we look at it through the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt (the Prophet’s family), we see that the Prophet was sent to bring human minds back to life.
As Imam Ali (AS) beautifully explains in Nahj al-Balagha, the Prophet was sent to:
“...unearth for them the buried treasures of the intellect.” (To help people use their minds and hearts again).
1. The World Before Islam: A Time of Darkness
Before the Prophet came, the world was in a time called Jahiliyyah (The Time of Ignorance). It was a dark and confusing time.
Imam Ali (AS) described this era by saying the people were lost, arrogant, and blinded by their own bad desires. Society had three big problems:
Cruelty: People were burying their baby daughters alive. The Quran asks: “For what sin was she killed?”
Confusion: People worshipped stone idols instead of the One True God.
Injustice: The strong and rich crushed the weak and poor.
Allah sent the Prophet to save us from this mess. The Quran says it was a huge favor to believers that Allah sent a Messenger to purify and teach them (Quran, Surah Al-I-Imran, Chapter 3, The Family of Prophet Imran, Verse 164).
2. The Three Main Teachings
The Prophet didn’t just smash stone statues; he smashed the bad habits in people’s hearts. His mission had three main pillars:
A. One God (Tawhid) The Prophet taught that there is no god but Allah. This freed people from being slaves to kings, tribes, or money. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (AS) teaches us that we can only truly know Allah through the guidance of the Prophet.
B. Human Worth Before Islam, if you were poor or a slave, you were treated like dirt. The Prophet taught that everyone is equal. The only thing that makes one person better than another is Taqwa (being good and God-fearing).
C. Good Character The Prophet came to “purify” people. He taught that having knowledge isn’t enough; you must also be a good, kind person.
3. A Miraculous Journey: The Isra and Mi’raj
To show the Prophet’s incredibly high status, Allah took him on a miraculous journey in a single night. This is known as Isra and Mi’raj.
The Journey: He travelled from Mecca to Jerusalem, and from there, he ascended through the heavens. He met past prophets like Ibrahim and Musa (AS) and travelled beyond where any angel had ever gone to speak directly with Allah.
The Gift: On this journey, he received the beautiful gift of the five daily prayers (Salah) for us.
Importance: The Quran mentions this event in Surah al-Isra. It is a core belief for us. Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (AS) emphasized its importance, saying: “He who denies three things is not from our Shia: the Mi’raj, the questioning in the grave, and intercession.”
4. Why Did People Fight Him?
The Prophet was opposed by the rich and powerful leaders of his time. They weren’t fighting him because they were stupid; they fought him because they were arrogant.
They knew that if everyone became equal, they would lose their power and money. The Quran warns us that this kind of arrogance can come back if we are not careful.
5. The Mission Continues: The Quran and Ahl al-Bayt
When the Prophet passed away, his mission did not end. He made sure we would not get lost again. He told his followers:
“I am leaving behind Two Weighty Things: The Book of Allah (Quran) and my Family (Ahl al-Bayt). They will never separate.”
The Imams kept the Prophet’s mission alive:
Imam Ali (AS) fought to protect the true meaning of the Quran.
Imam Husayn (AS) sacrificed his life in Karbala to save the religion when tyrants tried to destroy it.
Conclusion: It Is Our Duty Now
The Prophet started the mission, and the Imams protected it. Now, it is our job to carry it.
We must follow the Quran and the Ahl al-Bayt to stay on the right path. We must be good people, help others, keep up our prayers, and wait for the return of Imam al-Mahdi (AJ), who will finish the mission and fill the world with justice.