ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Khadija-tul-kubra the Wife of the Holy Prophet Chapter 6 : the Proclamation of Islam At length the groundwork that Muhammed had to do to take charge of his duties and responsibilities as the Last and the Greatest Messenger of God to this world, was over. The night of paganism, error and ignorance had been long, dark, dreary and dismal. Mankind was in a state of despair. It was at a loss to know if it would ever see the light of dawn.

It was God's infinite Mercy which harkened to the unspoken longing of mankind. In response to its silent appeal, the Sun of Islam rose from the valley of Makka to overpower the darkness of polytheism in the world, and to proclaim the triumph of the doctrine of Tauheed (monotheism).

Muhammed was 40 years old when he was commanded by Allah, through His angel, Gabriel, to declare His Oneness (Tauheed) to the idolaters and polytheists of the whole world, and to deliver the message of new hope and peace to an embattled humanity. In compliance with this command of Heaven, Muhammed launched the momentous programme called Islam which was to change the destiny of mankind forever.

The basic design of Islam, as he received it from Gabriel, was perfected in Heaven, and now he had to present it to the family of man. Before he received his prophetic mission, Muhammed spent days and nights in prayer and meditation both at home and in the cave of Hira, as noted before.

He was in Hira one evening when the Archangel Gabriel appeared before him, and brought to him the tidings that Allah had chosen him to be His last messenger to this world, and had imposed upon him the duty of extricating mankind from the welter of sin, error and ignorance, and to bring it into the light of Guidance, Truth and Knowledge.

Gabriel then bade Muhammed to "read" the following verses: (In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful) READ IN THE NAME OF THY LORD AND CHERISHER WHO CREATED: CREATED MAN OUT OF A CLOT OF CONGEALED BLOOD. READ! AND THY LORD IS MOST BOUNTIFUL, HE WHO TAUGHT THE USE OF PEN: TAUGHT MAN THAT WHICH HE KNEW NOT.

These five verses were the earliest revelation, and they came to Muhammed Mustafa on the "Night of Power" or the "Blessed Night" in Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar) of the 40th year of the Elephant. RAMADHAN IS THE (MONTH) IN WHICH WAS SENT DOWN THE QURAN, AS A GUIDE TO MANKIND, ALSO CLEAR (SIGNS) FOR GUIDANCE AND JUDGMENT (BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG). (Quran Majid.