The Third Principle: Knowledge of Your Prophet Muhammad

The third principle is knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him — who he was, what he brought, and what it means to follow him. Ibn Abdul Wahhab opens this section with his name, lineage, and origin: Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdul Muttalib ibn Hashim, of the tribe of Quraysh, from the Arabs, from the children of Isma'il ibn Ibrahim, peace be upon them all.

The Prophet was born in Makkah in the year of the elephant (approximately 570 CE). He lived among his people for forty years before prophethood, known universally as Al-Amin — the trustworthy. When revelation came, he was in the cave of Hira, and the angel Jibril descended upon him with the first verses of Surah Al-'Alaq: "Read in the name of your Lord who created" (Al-'Alaq, 96:1). He remained in Makkah for thirteen years after prophethood, calling people to tawhid and warning them against shirk. He then migrated to Madinah, where Allah's religion reached its completion and spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.

Ibn Abdul Wahhab emphasizes several key aspects of the Prophet's mission. First, he was sent to all of humanity, not only the Arabs. Allah says: "And We have not sent you except as a mercy to the worlds" (Al-Anbiya', 21:107), and: "Say: O mankind, I am the Messenger of Allah to you all" (Al-A'raf, 7:158). This universality distinguishes the Prophet Muhammad from earlier prophets, who were sent to specific peoples.

Second, he came with the final and complete divine guidance — the Quran and the Sunnah. Allah says: "This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion" (Al-Ma'idah, 5:3). This verse, revealed on the day of Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage, signals the closure of prophethood. No prophet, book, or law will come after Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Third, obedience to the Prophet is inseparable from obedience to Allah. Allah says: "Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah" (An-Nisa', 4:80). Following the Prophet is not optional for a believer. The Sunnah — his sayings, actions, and tacit approvals — is the second source of Islamic law and the authoritative explanation of the Quran. Rejecting the Sunnah while claiming to follow the Quran is a contradiction the scholars have unanimously condemned.

Ibn Abdul Wahhab also presents the proof of the Prophet's prophethood. Among the greatest miracles is the Quran itself, which remains unchanged and unchallenged. Allah challenged all of creation to produce even one chapter like it, and the challenge has never been met (Al-Baqarah, 2:23). The Prophet's character, consistency, and the transformative effect of his message on a people who had known nothing but ignorance and idol worship stand as further testimony.

The author concludes with the meaning of love for the Prophet. True love is not sentimental — it requires following him. Allah says: "Say: if you truly love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins" (Al 'Imran, 3:31). Knowing the Prophet means knowing his life, internalizing his character, and placing his guidance above all other opinions and customs. This knowledge of the third principle completes the foundation upon which the believer's entire religious life is built.