Replying to the misunderstandings about the best creature, Muhammad (Peace be upon Him)
Written by/ Akram Hassan Morsy

Is the prophet of Islam a mercy to mankind?

They say: There's a verse in the Quran, Muslims always say about their prophet, saying: { And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds} (The Prophets: 107). How is he (PBUH) a mercy to mankind, while he wasn't a mercy to the disbelievers like us?!
The reply:
First: Some of what they say is true, as the complete mercy has one condition, that is believing in him (PBUH). It's mentioned in the Facile Interpretation, that this verse means: We haven't sent you, the prophet, except as a mercy to all people. He who believes in you will obtain salvation and satisfaction, but he who doesn't believe in you, will obtain loss and dissatisfaction.
Through this interpretation, we find that who doesn't believe in him (PBUH) will not get that mercy. And who believes in him, he (PBUH) will be a reason for his salvation and escape from hellfire, in addition to winning the gratification of Allah, the Almighty. There are many proofs for this, of which:
1 - Allah, the Almighty, says in the Quran: {O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book*By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light, by His permission, and guides them to a straight path} (The table spread with food: 15-16).
2 – Allah, the Almighty, also says to His prophet: (And indeed, [O Muhammad], you guide to a straight path*The path of Allah , to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Unquestionably, to Allah do [all] matters evolve) ( The Consultation: 52-53).
Therefore, he (PBUH) is a mercy to them, as he (PBUH) guides them to the right path, in case they believe in him (PBUH).
Second: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was a mercy to the disbelievers, as Allah postponed their torture by eradication because of him (PBUH). Allah, the Almighty, didn't decimate them as a result of their disbelief in His prophet (PBUH). Unlike the state with the previous prophets and messengers, Allah, the Almighty, decimated their disbelievers, He, the Almighty, says: {And [remember] when they said, "O Allah , if this should be the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment"*But Allah would not punish them while you, [O Muhammad], are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness} (The Spoils of War: 32-33)
The reason of this verse revelation is what's mentioned in The Correct Bukhari, number 4282. Narrated by Anas Ibn Malek, he said: Abu Jahl said: "O Allah , if this should be the truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the sky or bring us a painful punishment". Then, this verse was revealed: { But Allah would not punish them while you, [O Muhammad], are among them, and Allah would not punish them while they seek forgiveness}.
So, here's a question: Isn't that a mercy to all humans including the disbelievers?, as the torture by eradication was cancelled due to the presence of Muhammad among them, wasn't this a mercy to them?
In short: prophet Muhammad was a general mercy to all creatures, as he came with their satisfaction if they follow him (PBUH). He who doesn't believe in him, has shortened in the right of himself, because he missed himself and his share from that mercy….He's a mercy also because Allah, the Almighty didn't decimate them like what He, the Almighty, did with previous nations, who disbelieved in them.
Third: the objectors believe that Allah is devotion, and that He, the Almighty sacrificed His own son (by being killed), so that's how He, the Almighty, likes the world.. Thus, here's a question: if Allah is devotion and He's merciful as they claim, then do this devotion and mercy reach me as a disbeliever of Jesus, the Lord, redemption and crucifixion?!
The reply: in the completion of John's Bible text: { 16 For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God} (John 3:16-18).
Therefore, it's clear from the previous text that devotion and mercy concern belief. The text says: { that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life}. With the concept of variance, this means: whoever doesn't believe in Him shall be perished, and will not have eternal life!
We, as well, say: Muhammad's (PBUH) mercy concerns believing in him till the end of the world. If they believe in him (PBUH), they will obtain salvation, enter paradise, and escape hellfire.

Translation to English: Professor Islamic translation