Eternal Rest
After the religion brought by the Prophet (r) had been made perfect and complete, Allah
sent down the revelation: “This day I have perfected your religion, completed my favors
upon you, and declared Islam as your Religion” [Soorah Al-Maaidah:3]
The Prophet of Allah (r) had delivered the message truthfully. He had spared no pains. He
had not let any hardship or sacrifice shake him. He had brought up the people who could be
trusted to live up to the spiritual heritage of the Prophets of Allah (u), who could shoulder
the heavy responsibility of carrying the banner of Faith and Truth and to guard the message
of Allah against every interpolation and mutation. Allah had even affirmed that they were
capable of the obligation laid on them in the Qur'anic verse that says,
“Ye are the best community that hath been raised-up for mankind, ye enjoin right
conduct and forbid indecency; and ye believe in Allah.” [Soorah Aali-'Imraan 110]
The Qur’an contains Allah’s pure and holy truth, the source of inspiration and conviction
to these people, which enjoyed the assurance of Allah from being eclipsed or from under-
going any corruption in its text.
“Verily We reveal the Reminder, and verily We are its Guardian.” [Soorah Al-Hijr 9]
On the other hand, Allah’s help and victory came to invigorate the Prophet (r) who saw
the people entering the religion of Allah in large numbers. Delegations from Arab tribes
followed one after another in rapid succession to pledge their allegiance to him. The
lightning speed or the geometric growth, with which Islam gained converts, promised its
victory over all religions of the world.
Allah, in Soorah an-Nasr, makes an allusion to the rapid success of Islam:
“When Allah’s succor and the triumph cometh And You seest mankind entering the re-
ligion of Allah in troops. Then hymn the praises of Your Lord, and seek forgiveness of
Him. Lo! He is ever ready to show mercy.” [Soorah An-Nasr 1-3]RECITATION OF THE QUR’AN AND DEVOTIONS
The Prophet (r) used to retreat into his mosque for private devotions during the last ten
days of Ramadan, but during the last Ramadan of his life he had secluded himself for twenty
days. (Al-Bukhaari, Kitab ul-A'itika)
The Qur’an used to be reviewed by the Prophet (r) with Jibreel (Gabriel) once annually
during Ramadan, but this was done twice in the year which he died. The Prophet (r) at such
a time told his companions that he had some strong feelings that the time of his departure
from the world was drawing near. (Al-Bukhaari, Kitab-ul-Manaqib)