Questioner: How do we know that the Holy Prophet (sa) was a true prophet? Please answer us as we can give this answer to non-Muslims.
Huzoor (rh): Well, she has asked all concerning the truth of Islam and the existence of God and the truth about the Prophets and everything. She has asked a question in which all these aspects of this question are embodied. In fact, nothing of religion is left out. So for a short session like this, such questions with such wide possibilities of answers should not be asked like that. If the lady could pinpoint one particular difficulty in this regard, then it would have been easier for me to answer this question. For instance, the truth of a prophet’s claim in itself covers a very wide area of possibilities because those who are brought up in the Islamic teachings, they have a different outlook in this regard. To them we can give a few certain answers given in the Holy Qur’an and they are well familiarised with them and they understand so the matter is easy to be disposed. But an atheist from Russia, for instance, or China, or anywhere, when he asks the same question you have to prepare the whole background and the answer would be much more voluminous than to an ordinary Muslim. So to a Christian, the Christian’s concept of prophethood is substantially different from the concept that is held by the Muslims. There ladies can also be prophetesses, soothsayers are also called prophets. So the prophet’s concept is so different and so commonplace among the Christians that although you speak about the same thing apparently, but you speak different languages and your concept of prophethood does not tally and agree with the Christians. So what proof would you offer him? He would have a different concept in his mind and just to say this is the proof of prophet’s truth will not be understood by him. So these questions should not be asked in generalisations. Particular people with special knowledge and special background of religious knowledge require different answers. So unless the lady specifies the question in this regard, what sort of speaker she has in mind and what would be the criteria from his point of view for establishing the truth of prophethood, then of course applying that criteria to the Prophet (sa), I shall be able to establish the truth of the Prophet in that regard.
