Recognizing Truthfulness of Prophets
In addition to studying miracles, studying their Seerah and conduct will help us recognize their truthfulness.
Every messenger of God had miracles that suited the conditions of the society and the time where they lived. For instance, the miracle of Prophet Moses (AS) was turning his staff into a serpent because he lived at a time when sorcery and magic were common.
Prophet Jesus (AS) lived at a time when a lot of attention was paid to medicine and curing diseases. That is why he cured diseases and brought the dead back to life at the order of God.
And when Muhammad (AS) was appointed to prophethood, his miracle was words (the Quran) because poetry and eloquence were very popular in that time.
Moreover, because Islam is the last religion sent by God to humanity, it should have a permanent miracle and that is why the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) miracle has remained even after his death and will remain a miracle forever.
It was said before that there are three ways for recognizing prophets of God: First is through miracles, which was explained before. The second way is through studying their conducts, remarks and Seerah. Take this example:
There is a street fight between two individuals and they are taken into custody by police.
These questions are asked by the police during the interrogation:
1- Name and family name?
2- Where did the fight take place?
3- When did the fight take place?
4- What was the reason?
5- What did you say?
6- What did you do?
After reflecting on the answers to these questions, the interrogator gets to the bottom of the incident and finds out the truth.
If we want to know the prophet of God in this way, we should also ask questions like the following:
1- Who was he?
2-Why did he rise up?
3- What people accepted his invitation?
4- What groups of people rejected his invitation and started opposing him?
5- How did he prove his truthfulness?
6- What did he say?
7- What people did he train (on the path of God)?
The history of messengers of God, especially the last prophet (PBUH), clearly answers these questions.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) was an illiterate person who was trusted by all people. He lived at the center of idolatry and polytheism with people plagued by superstition and ignorance. He rose up against corruption and decadence.
Among those who followed him were a woman like Khadijah (SA) and a man like Ali ibn Abi Talib (AS), both of whom were examples of Ikhlas and purity. Those who opposed the Prophet (PBUH) were people of power, the arrogant and the oppressors.
He walked only on the path of the truth and stayed away from hypocrisy and pretense.
His words were from the enlightening teachings of the Quran and such great figures like Salman, Abuzar, Miqdad and others were trained in his school.
Indeed, if Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) had no miracles, his Seerah and conduct are enough for everyone to believe his truthfulness.
