that “We have not sent thee but as a bearer of good news and as a warner to all mankind14. On another occasion also, the universality of the Holy Prophet’s mission is thus stressed: “Say, O mankind, surely I am the Messenger of Allāh to you all, of Him, Whose is the kingdom of the heavens and the earth” (7:158). One thing is sure that no other prophet is spoken of either in the Holy Qur’ān or in any other scripture15 as having been sent to the whole of humanity or to all people or all nations; nor is Holy Prophet Muḥammad ever spoken of in the Holy Qur’ān as having been sent to his people only.16 The Holy Qur’ān itself is repeatedly termed “a Reminder for the nations”.17 And the Holy Prophet is not only a warner to all the nations but a mercy to all of them as well: “And We have not sent thee but as a mercy to the nations” (21:107).

The idea that a world-prophet must follow the national prophets is further developed in the Holy Qur’ān. It is in a Madīnah revelation18 that the whole proposition, the appearance of a world prophet, the distinguishing feature of his religion and the necessity for believing in him is laid down in clear words. The complete passage is as follows: “And when Allāh made a covenant through the prophets: Certainly what I have given you of Book and wisdom — then a messenger comes to you verifying that which is with you, you shall believe in him, and you shall aid him. He said, Do you affirm and accept My compact in this matter? They said, We do affirm. He said, Then bear witness, and I too am of the bearers of witness with you. Whoever then turns back after this, these are the transgressors. Seek they then other than Allāh’s religion? And to Him submits whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and to Him they will be returned. Say: We believe in Allāh and that which is revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to the prophets from their Lord; we do not make any distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit. And whoever seeks a religion other than Islām, it will not be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers” (3:81-85).

That a world-prophet is spoken of here is evident from the fact that his acceptance — “you must believe in him and you must aid him” — is