Islam Stands the Test of History
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

Islam, according to its claim is an eternal religion. Any claim of
this kind invites people to judge its validity on historical ground.
If the history of later days testifies its claim, then, this claim is
endorsed, otherwise it stands rejected. There is a clear-cut example
of Marxism in the 20th century in this regard. Carl Marx, according
to his concept of historical determinism, claimed that modern
industrial capitalism is a thesis, and then according to its inherent
laws there would emerge its antithesis, which will destroy the
industrial capitalism and a new synthesis will emerge.  But quite
against his prediction, industrial capitalism has survived, and is
making progress. This historical experience has finally buried
Marxist theory.
 
The case of Islam is quite different Even after a period of one
thousand five hundred years Islam has maintained its validity without
the slightest erosion. Here we quote a few instances in this regard.
 
The Prophet of Islam received first revelations in 610 AD. He faced
great opposition right from his family to the outside world.  In this
initial stage he was totally helpless, at that adverse situation he
received a revelation from God. It has been recorded in the Quran in
these words:
 
      They want to extinguish God's light with their mouths.
      But God will perfect His light, even though the
      unbelievers may detest it.  It is He who has sent His
      Messenger with guidance and the Religion of Truth.
      That he may make it prevail over all religions, even
      though the pagans may detest it. (61:8-9)
 
The well-known British historian Edward Gibbon describes the rise and
expansion of Islam as "one of the most memorable revolutions which
has impressed a new and lasting character on the nations of the
globe."
 
An Indian historian M.N. Roy has acknowledged the Prophet of Islam in
these words:
 
      "Muhammad must be recognized as by far the greatest
      of all Prophets, before or after him. The expansion
      of Islam is the most miraculous of all miracles.'
      (The Historical Role of Islam, p. 4-5)
 
The American writer, Michael Hart has written a book titled "The
100."  This book has selected 100 most influential persons in history
who have achieved most outstanding success in this world. It is the
Prophet of Islam who tops the list of one hundred most prominent
people outlining his historical account, the author writes:
 
      "He was the only man in history who was supremely
      successful on both the religious and secular levels."
      The great success that the Prophet of Islam had
      predicted for his mission at the very beginning
      exactly came true. This exceptional event serves as
      a historical testimony in favor of his Prophethood.
 
This fact has been described in the Quran several times in different
wording.  In the very beginning of the Prophetic career, the Quran
declared that Muhammad (Peace be upon him) would certainly succeed in
his mission.  All his opponents, however powerful they might be will
ultimately be defeated. In history, we find numerous personalities
who began their work with towering claims.  For instance Hitler,
before the Second World War had declared that his Nazi party was
destined to rule all Europe.  But none of these leaders achieved
success as claimed.  Throughout human history, Prophet of Islam is
the only exception that succeeded fully according to his claim.
 
Through the Prophet and his companions, this unique event took place
that they began from zero point and succeeded in influencing the
entire populated world of the time During this brief period they not
only conquered Arabia but also managed to crush the two greatest
empires-Roman and Sassanid-of their time.  Almost all the historians
have acknowledged this exceptional event of history. The Quran was
revealed prior to the modern age of knowledge.  Fourteen hundred
years ago, at the time of revelation, the Quran had declared that the
proof of this book being a divine book lay in its being in complete
accordance with the facts and discoveries made in the present as well
as in the future.  The Quran and knowledge will never come into
conflict with one another.
 
The Quran states:
 
      "Do they not ponder on the Quran?  Had it been from
      other than God, they would surely have found therein
      much discrepancy. (4:82)
 
The word 'Discrepancy' here means inconsistency that is Quranic
statement not agreeing with external knowledge.  In this verse the
Quran has declared that the proof of the Quran being a divine book is
that howsoever advancement is made in human knowledge, it will never
conflict / contradict with Quranic statements.
 
The later day history has astonishingly testified to it. The
statements contained in all the ancient books have been at
loggerheads with the latest scientific discoveries.  While the Quran
is the only exception, which steers clear from all such
contradictions.
 
Much has been written on this aspect of the Qur'an in modern times. 
Here I would like to refer to one book written by Maurice Bucaille, a
French scientist, titled The Bible, The Quran and Modern Science, the
writer has shown in detail in this book that the statements contained
in the Quran are astonishingly in exact accordance with the
discoveries of modern science.  This aspect of the Quran shows that
the Quran perfectly comes up to the scientific standard.
 
This development of human knowledge in favor of the Quranic contents
is not an accident.  It is another historical proof that the Quran is
a book revealed from the Creator of the universe whose knowledge
exceeds over all limitations of time and space.  Hence, we find in
the Quran (41:53) a unique prediction to this effect:
 
      "We will soon show them our signs in the Universe and
      their own Souls, until it will become quite clear to
     them that it is the truth." (41:53)
 
To sum up, there is no other person whose success in future was as
uncertain as that of the Prophet of Islam when he first began his
message.  However, his mission, as we noticed earlier, was crowned
with supreme success.  Similarly, there is no other scripture that
ever challenged the entire mankind to disprove its authenticity as
the Quran did, and finally got all rational support for its
supernatural origin and truthfulness / veracity even from its
bitterest opponents.
 
After a comparative study of the Quran and modern science Maurice
Bucaille concludes this discussion with these words:
      "In view of the level of knowledge in Muhammad's day,
      it is inconceivable that many of the statements in
      the Quran which are connected with science could have
      been the work of a man. It is, moreover, perfectly
      legitimate, not only to regard the Quran as the
      expression of a Revelation but also to award it a
      very special place, on account of the guarantee of
      authenticity it provides and the presence in it of
      scientific statements which, when studied today,
      appear as a challenge to explanation in human terms.
      (P.252)