‘Surely We will be sufficient for you against the mockers.’ (15:95)

Every day, on five occasions, the call to prayer is announced in almost every place Muslims reside throughout the world. In it the following words are repeated:

‘And I testify that Muḥammad is the Messenger of Allah’

There are approximately 1.8 billion Muslims scattered around the globe, in both concentrated and remote communities. The call to prayer is a requirement in a community for the prayer to be valid, and so one can imagine in how many places across the globe, at various times during the day and night, these words are proclaimed. Take into consideration the different time zones and different prayer times, and you can be pretty sure someone somewhere, at every hour of every day, must be calling out these words. This is just one manifestation of the verse of the Qur’an in which Allah says:

‘And did we not exalt your name?’ (94:4)

The poet of the Prophet, the Companion Ḥassān ibn Thābit, encapsulated this in his couplets:

And Allah joined the name of the Prophet to His own name:

When the caller to prayer announces before the Five, ‘I testify…’

In fact, the Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ is remembered far more often than just before the five daily prayers. He is remembered inside the Prayer too; in individual, congregational and private prayers. Seldom will you find anyone speaking about Islam for any amount of time, short or lengthy, without mentioning Muḥammad ﷺ. His reputation and name is certainly exalted.

The wife of the Prophet, ʿĀʾishah, recalls that once while on a journey prior to his return to Al-Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ awoke in his tent at night and remarked, ‘I wish a pious man would guard my tent tonight.’ As he said this, they heard the clanging of weapons outside the tent. The Prophet called out, ‘Who’s there?’, to which it transpired that his companion, Saʿd ibn Abī Waqqāṣ had arrived. When quizzed about his presence, he stated that he had felt a fear for the Prophet and had resolved to spend the night guarding him. The Prophet prayed for him and slept soundly. The next morning, the following verse was revealed:

‘…And Allah will protect you from the people…’ (5:67)

The Prophet looked out from his tent and addressing Saʿd, said, ‘Return [to your tent], for Allah has promised to protect me.’ [1]

The Prophet faced many challenges during his life, both physical and verbal. They started right from when he announced his prophethood. The abuse he suffered was initiated by none other than members of his own family and tribe. However, the reality was that a man of exemplary character and perfect morals, having been divinely chosen, inspired and protected by Allah was never going to be shut down and obliterated off the face of the earth, neither by bullies nor by sophisticated, internationally conspired plots. He lived a full life of 63 years, 23 of which he spent preaching the message of Allah. He went from having to flee his hometown with just one friend and a camel or two, to then giving an historic speech to 124,000 ardent followers and companions just 13 years later. 1400 years later, his followers and lovers reach 1.8 billion, and his teachings continue to inspire them.

‘They wish to extinguish Allah’s light with their mouths, but Allah will [certainly] perfect His light, even to the dismay of the disbelievers. He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with [true] guidance and the religion of truth, making it prevail over all others, even to the dismay of the polytheists.’ (61:8-9)

The Prophet had abusers who tried to shut him down and defame his message, his honour, his dignity and his persona. Yet Islam itself, 1400 years on, is testimony to his enduring legacy and excellence. There have been many who have tried since, who try today, and who will still try in the future, but they will all fail. Allah knew this, and would support and console His Prophet regularly about it:

‘We certainly know that your heart is truly distressed by what they say.’ (15:97)

‘We certainly know that what they say grieves you [O Prophet]. It is not your honesty they question—it is Allah’s signs that the wrongdoers deny.’ (6:33)

Allah effectively declares that whoever questions the integrity of the Prophet has taken issue with Allah Himself. And Allah promises to deal with these people:

‘Indeed, messengers before you were rejected but patiently endured rejection and persecution until Our help came to them. And Allah’s promise [to help] is never broken. And you have already received some of the narratives of these messengers.’ (6:34)

‘Surely We will be sufficient for you against the mockers.’ (15:95)

In the shadow of recent attempts at dishonouring the Prophet ﷺ, we should take consolation in these verses of the Qur’an and rest assured that Allah himself has assumed responsibility to protect His Prophet’s honour. It is warming to see many Muslims worldwide taking the opportunity to share snippets of his life and teachings to a global audience through various forms of media. Funnily enough, an attempt at dishonouring the Prophet has lead to more of his great life, qualities and teachings being propagated, and that is due to the grace of Allah alone.

Finally, let us not only pay lip service to this great man. Emulating the character of the Prophet and adopting his teachings form a fundamental part of our religion, and this is what we need to focus on. Talking the talk is easy; let’s walk the walk too.

[1] Muslim