Al-Jawāb as-Sahīh li-man baddala dīn al-Masīh - Ibn Taimiya - (6/46)

Section: The categories of those who claim prophethood and how this points to his truthfulness, peace and blessings be upon him

One of the clearest proofs concerning Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is that anyone who calls people to what he called them to must belong to one of three categories:

Either he is a truthful prophet, sent by Allah exactly as he declared himself to be—like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, David, Solomon,

and all the other prophets Allah mentions in His words:

“Indeed, We revealed to you as We revealed to Noah and the prophets after him; and We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the Tribes, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon, and We gave David the Psalms. And [We sent] messengers about whom We have already told you, and messengers about whom We have not told you; and Allah spoke to Moses directly—messengers bearing glad tidings and warnings so that people would have no argument against Allah after the messengers. And Allah is ever Mighty, Wise. Yet Allah bears witness to what He has sent down to you; He sent it down with His knowledge, and the angels also bear witness, and Allah suffices as Witness.” (Quran 4:163–166)

Or he is a just Muslim king who has instituted a political code.

[فَصْلٌ: أَقْسَامُ مُدِّعِي النُّبُوَّةِ وَدَلَالَةُ ذَلِكَ عَلَى صِدْقِهِ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ] وَمِمَّا يُبَيِّنُ أَمْرَ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى مِثْلِ مَا دَعَا إِلَيْهِ لَا يَخْلُو مِنْ ثَلَاثَةِ أَقْسَامٍ: إِمَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ نَبِيًّا صَادِقًا مُرْسَلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ كَمَا أَخْبَرَ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ، بِمَنْزِلَةِ نُوحٍ، وَإِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَمُوسَى، وَعِيسَى، وَدَاودَ، وَسُلَيْمَانَ، وَغَيْرِهِمْ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ الَّذِينَ ذَكَرَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى: {إِنَّا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ كَمَا أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى نُوحٍ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَعِيسَى وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُونُسَ وَهَارُونَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُدَ زَبُورًا وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ وَكَلَّمَ اللَّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيمًا رُسُلًا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا لَكِنِ اللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ إِلَيْكَ أَنْزَلَهُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَشْهَدُونَ وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا} [النساء: ١٦٣] ، وَإِمَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ مَلِكًا مُسْلِمًا عَادِلًا، وَضَعَ نَامُوسًا سِيَاسِيًّا