ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The a Mercy To the World Introduction For a long time, a need was felt for a brief book that captures the essence of the way of life and teachings of the , and at the same time serves as an easy introduction for the layperson to the greatest personality that mankind has ever known.

Despite the many reference and scholarly books on the subject, few give a glimpse of the magnificent character and conduct of the final messenger of God in the way the works of Grand Ayatollah Imam Muhammad Shirazi do.

The life and teachings of the Prophet were central and omnipresent to the many books written by Imam Muhammad Shirazi, where he extensively refers to the Prophet's teachings or his policies, citing the stances the Prophet had in various events, or the policies he had adopted with respect to particular issues, and bases his analyses on the teachings of the may Allah bless him and his impeccable family.

Presented in this book are extracts from three different works by the author about the and some of his teachings. However, this is not intended to be a collection of all the works by the author about the , which number tens of books. This work is not intended to be a comprehensive chronological presentation of the life of the Prophet, nor does it aim to detail all his teachings.

It is intended to give some idea about the historic transformation that has been initiated by the Prophet and the change he induced in the course of mankind's life. ix To help appreciate the significance of the universal renaissance that the began some fourteen centuries ago, it is necessary to be aware of the status quo that prevailed at the time prior to start of his prophetic mission, even if outlined very briefly.

As an eyewitness of the state of affair of the human society at the time, Imam Ali says: "Allah sent Muhammad some time after the other messengers, and after the nations of the world had been slumbering for a long time. Strife had become entrenched, affairs disparate, and wars raging. The light of the world had become obscured, and vanities had become foremost. The leaves of life had then become yellow, its fruits rare, and its water dried up.

The lighthouse of guidance had crumbled, and the signs of ruin had become manifest. The world scowled upon its people, frowned in the face of those who sought after it.