Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam-o-alaikum.
 
I hope you are absolutely fine by the grace of Almighty Allah.

 
Nowadays, we often receive the scanned copies of some Tabarrukat i.e. some scanned copies of letters which were written and sent by Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) to various Kings and Rulers for accepting Islam (sample copy attached).

 
Here I want to know; as per historical facts, it is quite clear that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) was not a learned/ educated person. That is the biggest proof of authenticity of the Holy Quran as Allah's message; as Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) was unable to write all that message by Himself. Secondly, the accuracy and appropirateness of the scientific facts and correctness of statistical figures which are discovered in current era, also shows that He could never write all those things by Himself.

 
Moreover, as He was not educated therefore He used to ask His companions to write down all verses of the Holy Quran which Angel Jibrael A.S brought to Him. Also, today we find most ancient handwritten copies of the Holy Quran, which were drafted by Hazrat Omer R.A, Hazrat Usman R.A and Hazrat Ali R.A but we find no copy of the Holy Quran which was drafted by our Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

 
By keeping all those things, we realize that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) was unable to write down anything; even He did not draft a copy of the Holy Quran. Then the point comes in our mind... how He wrote the letters to Kings/ Rulers? It just shows that He did not draft the letters but He dictated the letters to His companions and then only stamped the letters.

 
Please provide me details about this matter and inform me what is the reality.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Prophet(saws) did not know how to read or write

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: ……Then the point comes in our mind... how He wrote the letters to Kings/ Rulers? It just shows that He did not draft the letters but He dictated the letters to His companions and then only stamped the letters.

Respected brother, not only is it a historical and recorded fact that the Last and Final Messenger (saws) could not read and write; and none other than The All-Knowing, All-Wise Lord Himself bears witness in His Glorious Quran regarding the inability of the Noble Prophet (saws) to read or write!!!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 29 Surah Ankaboot verse 48:

(O Prophet (saws)), you did not read any book before this, nor did you write any with your hand. If it were so, the worshippers of falsehood could have been involved in doubt.

It is indeed accurate and true that when the Messenger of Allah (saws) intended to invite the rulers and kings of the pagan nations surrounding Arabia to the Truth of Islam, he (saws) only dictated the letters which were sent to them, and it was his companions who wrote those letters….and as was the custom of those days, the Messenger of Allah (saws) would stamp those ‘official’ letters with a seal bearing his name.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan