In the final installment of a series on the prophets with former Christian minister Sheikh Yusuf Estes, the conversation turns to the most important figure in Islamic history: Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) — the last and final messenger sent to all of humanity. Understanding who he was, what he taught, and how to verify his prophethood is essential for every person seeking the truth.
How to Identify a True Prophet
With many people throughout history claiming prophethood — from Rashid Khalifa to Ghulam Ahmed to Joseph Smith — how do you separate the true from the false? Sheikh Yusuf Estes outlines clear criteria: a true prophet must claim prophethood, possess impeccable character, bring a message consistent with all previous prophets, and deliver revelation that is free from contradiction. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) meets every single one of these benchmarks, and the Quran itself challenges anyone to find even a single contradiction within it.
“If it were from other than Allah, they would find in it many contradictions.” (Quran 4:82) — The Quran itself issues an open challenge that no one has been able to meet in over 1400 years.
The Consistent Message of All Prophets
From Adam to Noah to Abraham to Moses to Jesus to Muhammad (peace be upon them all), every prophet came with the same core message: submit yourself to the One God alone. Islam was not invented by Prophet Muhammad — it is the continuation and completion of the same way of life taught by every messenger throughout human history. The word Islam itself requires five words to translate: surrender, submission, obedience, sincerity, and peace.
“Islam is from the word Aslam. In English, you need five words to define it: surrender, submission, obedience, sincerity, and peace with whatever your circumstance is after you have done the other four.” — Sheikh Yusuf Estes
Steps to Accepting the Truth
- Clean your heart of misconceptions, false notions, hatred, and bigotry — Allah does not guide a closed heart
- Humble yourself and sincerely ask God — not Jesus, not Muhammad, not any creation — to guide you to the truth
- Study the Quran and the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) with an open mind
- Visit scienceislam.com to watch nine non-Muslim scientists testify about the Quran’s accuracy — one accepted Islam during filming
The message of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the same message of every prophet before him: worship the One God alone, live righteously, and prepare for the Day you will stand before your Creator. Humble yourself, ask for guidance sincerely, and be ready for the truth that comes to you. It is the straight path — no crookedness in it.
