What follows is an attempt to understand who it is who is known as the “Last Prophet”;  a person who has had millions of followers over fifteen centuries; a person whose name is the Prophet Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings be upon him.

The Creator of this majestic universe wants to be known.
And because He wants to be known, He will make Himself known.
And because He will make Himself known, He will speak.
And because He will speak, He will speak with mankind who is conscious and intelligent.
And because He will speak with mankind, He will speak with the best and most salient of humans.
And then He will speak to all of mankind through that man, who will become his Messenger and Prophet.
Bediuzzaman Said Nursi

Therefore, those who want to know the Creator of this majestic “palace of universe” must first find, listen, and follow the message of this Prophet.

What follows is an imaginary journey that we embark on to find that Blessed Guide.

What follows is an attempt to understand who it is who is known as the “Last Prophet”;  a person who has had millions of followers over fifteen centuries; a person whose name is the Prophet Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings be upon him.

The Prophet Muhammad, whose truthfulness was testified by all those who knew him, indicated the eloquent revelation of the Creator of the universe to prove his Prophethood. Those who look at this Qur’an, the index of the book of creation, will see how it speaks of the Messenger of its message:

Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and the Last of the Prophets. (Ahzab 33:40)
Muhammad is but a messenger, messengers (the like of whom) have passed away before him. (Al Imran 3:144)
Surely We have revealed to you as We revealed to Noah, and the prophets after him, and We revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes, and Jesus and Job and Jonah and Aaron and Solomon, and as We imparted unto David the Psalms. (Nisa 4:163)

This Holy Book states that the Prophet Muhammad was sent as a Mercy to the worlds (Anbiya 21:107); that he was sent as a bearer of good tidings and a warner (Furqan 25:56 and Baqara 2:119); that he was the first to believe (An‘am 6:14); that he called the people to believe in God, himself as God’s Messenger, the Book that was revealed to him, and those books that were revealed to messengers before Him (Nisa 4:136).

This Miraculous Book does not deny the revelations that came before it; rather it testifies to their truthfulness and completes them (Baqara 2:41). It states that the Prophet Muhammad called those who believed in the prophets that came before him to the belief in one God (Al Imran 3:64).

And by relating, To those who believe in God and His messengers and make no distinction between any of the messengers, we shall soon give their (due) rewards (Nisa 4:152), the Prophet Muhammad taught that all prophets should be considered equal.

This Eternal Word of God not only demands belief in all prophets but also reminds us that the prophets of the past promised to believe in those that would come after them. It calls out to those who have been given a Book and Wisdom be sure to believe in and help the prophet who confirms your scripture. When everything in the skies and on the ground bows to the will of God in obedience and listens to Him, is it possible for us not to take heed of His call of faith? (Al Imran 3:81-83). Truly, we should say nothing but We believe in God, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to God do we bow our will (in Islam) (Baqara 2:136).

This Great Book also speaks of the Prophet Muhammad’s high station in God’s regard:

Muhammad, as one who invites to God's (grace) by His leave, and as a lamp spreading light. (Ahzab 33/46)
And lo! You are of a tremendous character. (Qalam 68:4)
Surely God and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe! Call for (Divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation. (Ahzab 33:56)
Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If you love God, follow me; God will love you and forgive you your sins. God is Forgiving, Merciful. (Al Imran 3:31)

Thus, we have seen from these Qur’anic verses that he who was known as “Muhammad The Trustworthy” was sincere and truthful when he claimed to be the Prophet of God. Now let us turn and listen to what he is saying. Let us hear what the prophet who holds the key to the meaning of the universe has to say about himself.

While on the one hand he shows his lofty station by saying that God calls him his Beloved, on the other hand he shows his humility and modesty by saying,

“Do not exaggerate in your praise towards me. I am only God’s messenger and servant.”

On the one hand he says “The first to be created was my light,” on the other hand he does not allow his followers to consider him greater than Prophet Jonah.

When speaking about the prophets that came before him he says, “I am the prayer of my ancestor Abraham and the good tidings of Prophet Jesus.”

My state and that of the other prophets is like the following parable: A man builds a perfect and beautiful house but leaves one brick missing from a corner of the house. People come and gaze at the house. Noticing the missing brick they say “Will a brick not be put in this niche?” Now, I am that brick and the last of the prophets.

He says that his true duty is to complete the exalted character. He declares, “I am not the prophet of one tribe but the prophet of the people of all colors.” He says that love is the bond between himself and the believers: “Love God for His bounties and love me because of the love that God has for me.”

What the Prophet wants is nothing more than love and a greeting when mentioned.

Now, let us listen to what his believers say about him:

“His character is that of the Qur’an,” said Aisha, his wife and friend. His followers referred to him as a talking Qur’an. The Muslims greeted him by singing when he arrived at Medina from Mecca:

You are the moon, you are the sun,
You are light upon light.
You are the light of Surayya,[1]
Oh Beloved, oh Messenger...

The expression of love for the Prophet is not restricted to the narrations from his Companions. Poets spent entire lifetimes trying to compose adequate lines and verses to duly state their love and affection for the Prophet. Hassan Sabit said the following:

I cannot extol the Prophet with my words; instead my mentioning his name extols my words.

Imam Busri on the other hand expressed his admiration, saying,

Even his miracles appear dim in comparison with his truth.

Rumi showed him as his source of inspiration:

I am a grain of sand on the path he treads.
If anyone narrates anything from me but this,
I am absolved of those words, and of him.

Yunus Emre expressed his yearning saying,

I wish to discover the path that leads to you;
I wish to immerse myself in the dust of that path.

Centuries later, Bedi