An-Nadwi summarized the state of the Arabs and other people at that time, saying,
The corrupt conditions and the state reached at the middle of the sixth century A.D. were too serious to be rectified by individual reformers and educators. It was not an issue of correcting an ideology, removing a habit, accepting an act of worship, or reforming a community, as reformers and educators of every age would suffice to manage such things.
The issue, however, was the removal of the pre-Islamic debris and destructive paganism that had accumulated over the centuries and generations, and that had buried the instructions of prophets underneath them as well as the efforts of reformers and educators. It was also an issue of building a lofty, well-established and spacious entity that would be capacious for the entire world and all nations. It was the issue of making a new man different from the old man in everything, as if he was born anew. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And is one who was dead and We gave him life and made for him light by which to walk among the people like one who is in darkness, never to emerge therefrom? Thus it has been made pleasing to the disbelievers that which they were doing.}[Quran 6:122]
It was the issue of uprooting the germ of corruption, and eradicating paganism in such a way that would not leave any traces thereof. It was also the issue of firmly establishing the creed of monotheism in the depths of the human soul in a most sublime manner, and instilling an inclination to seek the pleasure of Allaah, worshipping Him, serving humanity, and supporting the truth, in a way that would overcome any other desire, suppress any other appetite and sweep away any resistance.
In conclusion, it was the issue of preventing humanity from committing suicide, humanity that was about to throw itself into the hell of both the worldly life and the Hereafter. It was the issue of leading humanity to a way that begins with happiness for the believers who know their Lord and ends with Paradise which was promised for the righteous. There is no passage more eloquent or truthful than the following one in the context of favoring Muslims with the Prophethood of Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam,wherein Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):
{And hold firmly to the Rope of Allaah all together and do not become divided. And remember the Favor of Allaah upon you – when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allaah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided.} [Quran 3:103]
Pre-Prophetic signs of Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam
Among his pre-prophetic signs was the stone that would salute him before he became a prophet. In a Hadeeth on the authority of Jaabir bin Samurah the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “I knew a stone in Makkah that would salute me before I was sent as a Messenger, and I still know it.” [Muslim] Another sign was the true vision, which was the first facet of the revelation that he experienced. He never saw such a vision unless it became true like daybreak. [Al-Bukhaari]
Isolation and worship was endeared to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, thus he would stay alone in the cave of Hiraa’, a mountain that was located in the north-west side of Makkah, wherein he would worship Allaah The Almighty for many nights, perhaps ten or more up to one whole month. Then he would return to his house and stay for only a short time to prepare for another stay in the cave of Hiraa’. He continued doing so until the revelation came to him during one of his stays there.
Ref : www.islamweb.net
