Historical proofs of Prophet Muhammadﷺ's existence.

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate

Prophet Muhammad (570AD – 8 June 632AD)

What are the Historical proofs of Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) existence?

Questioning the existence of Mohammad to a Muslim is similar to questioning the existence of Isaac Newton to a physicist.

Can you imagine getting up in your physics class and asking your physics professor to give you evidence that Isaac Newton existed? Do you imagine the look on his face and his feelings?

It is an absurd question. The Qur'an, the system of government, Law, and military, and Islam's predominance in the Middle East all existed before the death of Muhammed (pbuh). It didn't just pop out of no where historically. What about his wives, family, and hundreds of followers that had known him and written and spoken about him? Who turned Arabia into the Muslim Empire? How did this all happen without the Prophet (pbuh)?.

These kind of questions are arises due to some propagandas made by secularist movements. Their aim is to remove religions and morality from this world. First they went after Jesus (pbuh), saying he doesn't exist, now they will go after Muhammad (pbuh), and then soon after, they'll come for all of the Prophets (as). It's a calculated plan to completely delegitimize religious and spiritual values in the eyes of the people and pave the way for new "secular humanist" ideology that the West is helping to create.

But Islam has stronger foundations than other religions, they're going to have a hard time if they are planning to abolishing it. We have sufficient proofs of our prophet.

Just curious, how do you know that Isaac Newton, Jesus Christ, Buddha, Christopher Columbus, Albert Einstein, Michael Faraday , St. Paul, George Washington, Moses, Tagore, Rumi, Mother Teressa, Plato, Aristotle had ever existed- true historical figures?

You know them because they played a pivotal role in human advancement; Thomas Carlyle had said: ‘The History of the world is but the Biography of great men ...’

We know them because they are all great men; because they accomplished something great, influenced the society during their time, and the whole world later. All are recorded in the books either written by them, or by others who know them; most importantly, their impact will be felt by the world until the end of time.

So, if you believe in the other historical figures, and the criteria; won’t you believe that Prophet Muhammad was indeed a historical figure; proof of his existence is way more concrete and evidential than any other prominent figures in the history.

The founding of Muslim civilization and its unabating global spiritual influence; the Muslim conquests- defeat of the two evil empires – the Eastern Roman Empire and the Persian Empire by the upstart nomad Arabs, indeed confirms Prophet Muhammad’s existence and influence as an eminent historical figure.

You can, however, use common sense. There are 1.9 billion people in the world who adhere to a faith first preached by Muhammad (pbuh). There are contemporary historical records about him. There are extant letters that he wrote to foreign heads of state, and written accounts that were recorded by people who actually knew him - both Muslims and non-Muslims. But there was no records that disproves his existence.

Even though he’s been dead almost 1,400 years, we even know the exact spot where he was laid to rest.

You can use common sense, or you can believe that there is some vast, ongoing Arab conspiracy that has held up for 14 centuries to invent the Prophet of Islam and make people believe all of this time that he was real. Will all these people believe in a religion without a proper leader that prohibit more things (bad things) than other religions?

In ancient times, There was no sufficient materials like papers to record anything. However, Muhammad (pbuh) has unique historical records than any other historical persons. That's are classified into three :

Before his birth:
During his lifetime
After his death.

Lets look at some evidence we have got:

1. Before his birth:

You may wonder how can a person have mentioned in other scriptures before his birth?. Because he is the true prophet of God. And he is the last and final messenger of God. To some of the prophets who preceded Muhammad, God had revealed the coming of final prophet Muhammad. Below is the link to my article : Coming of Mohammed (PBUH) in world's major religious scriptures.

Click to read : Mohammed ﷺ in world scriptures

2. During his lifetime

There will not be any pictures or statues of Muhammad (pbuh) because Islam prohibit making pictures or statues of him and other people. If anybody made pictures of him, Then the people may start to worship him instead of Allah (that was happened in the case of Jesus). So Islam prohibit these kind of thing. So there is no scope to expect any pictures or statues of him. Because Islam is a pure monotheistic religion. There is some sources during his Lifetime.

a. Quran (read preservation of Quran here)

The Quran is the only remaining religious Scripture that remains unchanged. That is an historically proven fact. There are found so many Quran manuscripts that are carbon dated from the time of prophet Muhammad (pbuh). And that is exactly what we are reading now. It includes the name of Prophet Muhammad and about some of his life events. And Quran is also connected with the historical details (hadiths) that's are recorded by his followers.

The Quran - the lesson Prophet Muhammad preached to mankind withstood the test of time. In absence of any other proof, the Quran alone is enough as a proof that someone named Muhammad had indeed existed, and God revealed the Quran to him with his name mentioned in it.

The wave of impact of his legacy- the Quran is ever expanding - unabated; it is continued to be read and followed by the 1.9+ billion of his followers worldwide, and is being memorized by millions of people since the time of the Prophet which has shaped the Muslim civilization. The Birmingham Quran manuscript below is the text tested to be written to the period between AD 568 and 645- approximately the time period of the Prophet.

Birmingham Qur'an manuscript dated among the oldest in the world

There are a lot of Quran manuscripts from the time of Muhammad (pbuh). You can check it in this article: Click here

b. Hadiths:

Islam has two primary sources. First is the Qurʾān which is the direct word of God inspired to the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. The second source is the Prophet’s teachings. These teachings include his words, actions, and things he approved of. The Prophet’s teachings are called Sunna. The Sunna is found in texts called ḥadīth. A ḥadīth is a statement of the Prophet peace be upon him which was narrated by his companions and subsequently narrated to the next generation until these sayings were compiled in ḥadīth collections.

The Companions of the Prophet peace be upon him memorized his statements and actions. In addition to memorization, many Companions wrote these ḥadīths down in their personal collections. These ḥadīths were passed down to the students of the Companions and subsequently down to their students. Several Muslim scholars collected these ḥadīths into compilations which have become widespread and are the main sources of ḥadīths until today.

Hadiths are also the witness of several thousand people that's documented with clear chains of narration. Narrations of tens of thousands of things he said.

If you want to research about Hadiths: Click here

c. Covenant signed by the Prophet Muhammadﷺ

The Ashtiname of Muhammadﷺ, also known as the Covenant or Testament (Testamentum) of Muhammad, is a document which is a charter or writ written by Ali and ratified by Muhammad (pbuh) granting protection and other privileges to the followers of Jesus the Nazarene, given to the Christian monks of Saint Catherine's Monastery. It is sealed with an imprint representing Muhammad's hand.

Ashtiname of Muhammadﷺ

Manuscript copies are in Saint Catherine's Monastery, and Simonopetra

d. The Prophet’s letter to the Head of the States with his seal:

Muhammad's ﷺ letters to the heads of state are epistles sent by Muhammadﷺ to the political heads of Medina's neighboring regions, both of Arabia and of the non-Arab lands of the Near East, inviting them to Islam.

Read about it: Muhammad's letters to the heads of state - Wikipedia

Some are here:

Letter to Emperor Heraclius of Rome

Letter to King Nijashi

Letter to Amir of Bahrain

Letter to King of Faras

Letter to Amir of Qabat

e. Muslim calendar

The Muslim calendar, began with a starting point of Prophet Muhammed's emigration to Medina - known as Hijrah.

The Islamic calendar (Hijri calendar) employs the Hijri era whose epoch was established as the Islamic New Year of 622 CE. During that year, Muhammadﷺ and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina and established the first Muslim community (ummah), an event commemorated as the Hijra. In the West, dates in this era are usually denoted AH (Latin: Anno Hegirae, "in the year of the Hijra") in parallel with the Christian (AD), Common (CE) and Jewish eras (AM). In Muslim countries, it is also sometimes denoted as H from its Arabic form (سَنَة هِجْرِيَّة, abbreviated ھ). In English, years prior to the Hijra are denoted as BH ("Before the Hijra").

f. Dewan E Abu Talib - a collection of poetry written by Abu Talib- The Prophet’s uncle.

Here is one of his poems about Prophet Muhammad, pbuh:

“Let all of the people know that Muhammad is the Vizier of Musa and Isa

He came to us with guidance which Allah had given him

Everyone is guided by their love of Muhammad

Allah has honoured the Prophet Muhammad

And the most honourable of human beings is the Prophet Muhammad

He (Allah) ripped His name Mahmud and brought out (the name) Muhammad

By Allah, they (kuffar) will never reach you, their whole group

Until I have dust completely covering my face!

So, go ahead with your mission

You are under my eyes

You invited me and knew I was a guide to you

And you invited me and knew that I was trustworthy of you

And you invited me because you knew that I knew that Islam is the greatest religion in the eye of Allah”

g. Rock inscription in mount Sela

I am taking back you to the battle of trench, March 627 AD – April 627 AD.

This battle was fought by the anti islamic forces of Quraish and Ghatanfan against Muslims of Madinah. Muslims were under the lead of Prophet Muhammadﷺ. A companion is the prophet, Salman the Persian advised to build a trench around the city North of the mount Sela. During the battle, prophet's cousin, Ali ibn Abu Talib showed great bravery fighting at two fronts. During the battle, Quraizah, a Jewish tribe rebelled against Muslims. The Muslim chieftain of Madinah, a prominent companion of Muhammad, Saad ibn Muad acted as an arbitrator to pronounce judgment upon them.

Now in the last century, an rock inscription was discovered in mount Sela containing the names of prophet Muhammad, Ali, Salman, and Saad.

In the fourth and fifth line appear the words, “I am Muhammad bin Abdullah” and that is the full name of the prophet Muhammad as his father was Abdullah. In the eighth line is the name, “ I am Salman the (?)”. In the twelfth line is the phrase “I am Sa'd bin Mu'adh”. And Finally on the fifteenth line “I am Ali bin Abu Talib”. As it is known that Saad ibn Muad died in 627, the inscription can not be from a later era. Note: ‘Ibn’ or ‘bin’ are Arabic words meaning 'son of'.

h. Related things to him (house, dress, etc)

There is Muhammadﷺ's house, his grave, his friends grave, his swords, his clothes, the mosques he prayer in, the wells he drank from and so on. All handed down from the Prophet to his followers to their children and to their children with the proper documentation.

Below are some:

This is one of many letters sent by Muhammadﷺ to Kings in his time. They are on display in Turkey. The handwriting is not Muhammadﷺ's as he did not know how to read and write, but companions wrote for him.

The house and the room where Muhammadﷺ lived with Khadija.

his shoe

his shirt

Articles that Muhammadﷺ wore on his head

Muhammadﷺ's swords and they are many. displayed in Turkey.

Tomb of prophet Muhammadﷺ

3. After his death

There are many historical records about prophet Muhammad from the side of Muslims and Non Muslims. here's a book by Robert Hoyland that lists more than 120 documents that point to Muhammad's existence (Seeing Islam as Others Saw It) -- that mentions Greek, Syrian, Coptic, Armenian, Latin, Jewish, Persian, and Chinese sources.

Dated And Datable Texts Mentioning Prophet Muhammad From 1-100 AH / 622-719 CE

(Below contends are taken from : www.islamic-awareness.org)

Below is a listing of dated and datable Muslim and non-Muslim sources mentioning Prophet Muhammad. To put Muslim and non-Muslim accounts in a chronological perspective, the death of the Prophet happened in Rabī al-Awwal, 11 AH / June, 632 CE. Excluding multiples of certain objects such as milestones, coins and papyrological corpora, in total there are forty separate texts. Twelve of these are Christian literary texts, eight were written in Syriac, two in Coptic, one in Greek and one in Armenian. The remaining twenty eight items are dated documentary Muslim texts, twenty five are written in Arabic, two in Middle Persian and one in Arabic-Greek. With regard to the presentation of the texts, they are ordered chronologically irrespective of type, language or genre.

Here are some

📌Doctrina Iacobi Nuper Baptizati, 13–20 AH / 634–640 CE

Written by a Christian apologist, this anti-Jewish tract illuminates the story of the forced conversion of a Palestinian Jewish merchant named Jacob to Christianity. After reading the scriptures, instead of resenting his forced baptism, he recognises the truth of his newly found faith and is eager to share his experience with other Jews. Though it is quite clear this is a fictitious account designed for apologetic purposes, the historical details of contemporary events accurately recounted by the anonymous author reveals some quite startling information - the appearance of a new Prophet among the Saracens.

When the candidatus was killed by the Saracens, I was at Caesarea and I set off by boat to Sykamina. People were saying "the candidatus has been killed," and we Jews were overjoyed. And they were saying that the prophet had appeared, coming with the Saracens, and that he was proclaiming the advent of the anointed one, the Christ who was to come. I, having arrived at Sykamina, stopped by a certain old man well-versed in scriptures, and I said to him: "What can you tell me about the prophet who has appeared with the Saracens?" He replied, groaning deeply: "He is false, for the prophets do not come armed with a sword. Truly they are works of anarchy being committed today and I fear that the first Christ to come, whom the Christians worship, was the one sent by God and we instead are preparing to receive the Antichrist. Indeed, Isaiah said that the Jews would retain a perverted and hardened heart until all the earth should be devastated. But you go, master Abraham, and find out about the prophet who has appeared." So I, Abraham, inquired and heard from those who had met him that there was no truth to be found in the so-called prophet, only the shedding of men's blood. He says also that he has the keys of paradise, which is incredible.

This source vies with the following two texts detailed below, viz., A Record Of The Arab Conquest Of Syria, 637 CE and Thomas The Presbyter, c. 640 CE, as being amongst the very earliest non-Islamic sources to mention Prophet Muḥammad. Furthermore, this is the earliest text to ascribe to his teachings an explicit religious motivation.

📌A Record Of The Arab Conquest Of Syria, 15-16 AH / 637 CE.

This much faded note is preserved on folio 1 of BL Add. 14,461, a codex containing the Gospel according to Matthew and the Gospel according to Mark. This note appears to have been penned soon after the battle of Gabitha (636 CE) at which the Arabs inflicted a crushing defeat of the Byzantines. Wright was first to draw attention to the fragment and suggested that "it seems to be a nearly contemporary notice", a view which was also endorsed by Nöldeke. The purpose of jotting this note in the codex appears to be commemorative as the author appears to have realized how momentous the events of his time were. The words "we saw" are positive evidence that the author was a contemporary. The author also talks about olive oil, cattle, ruined villages, suggesting that he belonged to peasant stock, i.e., parish priest or a monk who could read and write. It is worthwhile cautioning that the condition of the text is fragmentary and many of the readings unclear or disputable. The lacunae are supplied in square brackets.

... and in January, they took the word for their lives (did) [the sons of] Emesa [i.e., Ḥimṣ)], and many villages were ruined with killing by [the Arabs of] Muḥammad and a great number of people were killed and captives [were taken] from Galilee as far as Bēth [...] and those Arabs pitched camp beside [Damascus?] [...] and we saw everywhe[re...] and o[l]ive oil which they brought and them. And on the t[wenty six]th of May went S[ac[ella]rius]... cattle [...] [...] from the vicinity of Emesa and the Romans chased them [...] and on the tenth [of August] the Romans fled from the vicinity of Damascus [...] many [people] some 10,000. And at the turn [of the ye]ar the Romans came; and on the twentieth of August in the year n[ine hundred and forty-]seven there gathered in Gabitha [...] the Romans and great many people were ki[lled of] [the R]omans, [s]ome fifty thousand [...]

There are certain observations to be made here. The phrase "turn of the year" signifies that the beginning of the note refers to the year 634-5 CE. The people of Emesa "took the word for their lives", an expression for surrendering on terms of tolerance, confirmed by oaths. Then there was a battle in Palestine with the "Arabs of Muhammad" in which many villages were ruined and people from the region of Galilee and Beth Sacharya(?), south west of Jerusalem were taken captive. Then the Arabs laid siege to Damascus (as read by Nöldeke). In May, 635 CE, a Byzantine general of the rank of sakellarious was in the region of Emesa. His name according to the Byzantine sources was Theodor. Apparently, he was unable to lift the siege. The next battle took place in Gabitha, a town to the north of the river Yarmuk in the Golan massif. The date of the battle is 20th August AG 947 = 636 CE / Rajab 15 AH, which agrees with the best Arab date for the battle of Yarmuk. As mentioned earlier, the fragmentary nature of this note has resulted in scholars advising caution.

📌 Thomas The Presbyter, 19 AH / 640 CE.

The 8th century BL Add. 14,643 was published by Wright who first brought to attention the mention of an early date of 947 AG (635-6 CE). The contents of this manuscript have puzzled many scholars for apparent lack of coherence as it contains an assembly of texts with diverse nature. In relation to Islam and Muslims, there are two important dates mentioned in this manuscript.

AG 945, indiction VII: On Friday, 4 February, [i.e., 634 CE / Dhul Qa‘dah 12 AH] at the ninth hour, there was a battle between the Romans and the Arabs of Muḥammad [Syr. tayyāyē d-Mḥmt] in Palestine twelve miles east of Gaza. The Romans fled, leaving behind the patrician YRDN (Syr. BRYRDN), whom the Arabs killed. Some 4000 poor villagers of Palestine were killed there, Christians, Jews and Samaritans. The Arabs ravaged the whole region.

AG 947, indiction IX: The Arabs invaded the whole of Syria and went down to Persia and conquered it; the Arabs climbed mountain of Mardin and killed many monks there in [the monasteries of] Kedar and Benōthō. There died the blessed man Simon, doorkeeper of Qedar, brother of Thomas the priest.

It is the first date above which is of great importance as it provides the first explicit reference to Muhammad in a non-Muslim source. The account is usually identified with the battle of Dathin.[30] According to Hoyland, "its precise dating inspires confidence that it ultimately derives from first-hand knowledge". This means that the time period between the death of Muhammad (June, 632 CE) and the earliest mention of him (4th February, 634 CE) is slightly over a year and half!

📌Jerusalem 32 - An Inscription Mentioning Witnessing By Three Disciples Of Prophet Muḥammad, 32 AH / 652 CE.

It states,

L1: “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.”

L4: “the protection of Allah and the guarantee of His Messenger.”

L6: “And witnessed it ʿAbd al-Raḥmān bin ʿAwf”

L7: “al-Zuhri, and Abū ʿUbaydah bin al-Jarrāḥ”

L8: “and its writer - Muʿāwiya....”

L9: “the year thirty two (?)”

This inscription just does not mention Muhammad as the messenger but also Abd al-Rahman bin Awf, and Abu Ubaydah bin al-Jarrah, both among the ten blessed companions. A certain Muawiyah is mentioned, most likely the future Umayyad caliph Muawiyah bin Abu Sufyan who was a companion of Muhammad, and one of the scribes of the holy Quran, here mentioned as the 'writer'.

📌 Sebeos, Bishop Of The Bagratunis, 40’s AH / 660’s CE.

One of the most interesting accounts of the early seventh century comes from Sebeos who was a bishop of the House of Bagratunis. From this chronicle, there are indications that he lived through many of the events he relates. He maintains that the account of Arab conquests derives from the fugitives who had been eyewitnesses thereof. He concludes with Mu‘awiya's ascendancy in the Arab civil war (656-61 CE), which suggests that he was writing soon after this date. Sebeos is the first non-Muslim author to present us with a theory for the rise of Islam that pays attention to what the Muslims themselves thought they were doing. As for Muhammad, he has the following to say:

At that time a certain man from along those same sons of Ismael, whose name was Mahmet [i.e., Muḥammad], a merchant, as if by God's command appeared to them as a preacher [and] the path of truth. He taught them to recognize the God of Abraham, especially because he was learnt and informed in the history of Moses. Now because the command was from on high, at a single order they all came together in unity of religion. Abandoning their vain cults, they turned to the living God who had appeared to their father Abraham. So, Mahmet legislated for them: not to eat carrion, not to drink wine, not to speak falsely, and not to engage in fornication. He said: 'With an oath God promised this land to Abraham and his seed after him for ever. And he brought about as he promised during that time while he loved Ismael. But now you are the sons of Abraham and God is accomplishing his promise to Abraham and his seed for you. Love sincerely only the God of Abraham, and go and seize the land which God gave to your father Abraham. No one will be able to resist you in battle, because God is with you.

Sebeos was writing the chronicle at a time when memories of sudden eruption of the Arabs was fresh. He knows Muhammad's name and that he was a merchant by profession. He hints that his life was suddenly changed by a divinely inspired revelation. He presents a good summary of Muhammad's preaching, i.e., belief in one God, Abraham as a common ancestor of Jews and Arabs. He picks out some of the rules of behaviour imposed on the umma; the four prohibitions which are mentioned in the Qur'an. Much of what he says about the origins of Islam conforms to the Muslim tradition.

📌 A Chronicler Of Khuzistan, 40’s AH / 660’s CE.

This is an anonymous and short Nestorian chronicle that aims to convey church as well as secular histories from the death of Hormizd son of Khusrau to the end of the Persian kingdom. Because of its anonymity, it is known to scholars as the Khuzistan Chronicle, after its plausible geographical location or Anonymous Guidi, after the name of its first editor. Amid his entry on the reign of Yazdgird, the chronicler gives a brief account of the Muslim invasions:

Then God raised up against them the sons of Ishmael, [numerous] as the sand on the sea shore, whose leader (mdabbrānā) was Muḥammad (mḥmd). Neither walls nor gates, armour or shield, withstood them, and they gained control over the entire land of the Persians. Yazdgird sent against them countless troops, but the Arabs routed them all and even killed Rustam. Yazdgird shut himself up in the walls of Mahoze and finally escaped by flight. He reached the country of the Huzaye and Mrwnaye, where he ended his life. The Arabs gained countrol of Mahoze and all the territory. They also came to Byzantine territory, plundering and ravaging the entire region of Syria. Heraclius, the Byzantine king, sent armies against them, but the Arabs killed more than 100,000 of them.

In summary, concerning Muhammad, the chronicler says that he was the leader of the sons of Ishmael, whom God raised against the Persians.

📌 The Maronite Chronicle, After 44 AH / 665 CE.

The anonymous author of this chronicle self-identifies himself as a Maronite and probably belonged to the Maronite community. It covers historical events from Alexander the Great down to the 660’s CE.

AG 971 (=660 CE): "Many Arabs gathered at Jerusalem and made Muʻāwiya king and he went up and sat down on Golgotha and prayed there. He went to Gethsemane and went down to the tomb of the blessed Mary and prayed in it. In those days when the Arabs were gathered there with Muʻāwiya, there was an earthquake;" much of Jericho fell, as well as many nearby churches and monasteries.

"In July of the same year the emirs and many Arabs gathered and gave their allegiance to Muʻāwiya. Then an order went out that he should be proclaimed king in all the villages and cities of his dominion and that they should make acclamations and invocations to him. He also minted gold and silver, but it was not accepted because it had no cross on it. Furthermore, Muʻāwiya did not wear a crown like other kings in the world. He placed his throne in Damascus and refused to go to the seat of Muḥammad."

In the notice for the year AG 971, whilst describing intra-Muslim conflict, of which he seems very well acquainted, the author mentions Muḥammad by name.

📌 P. Nessana 77 - Earliest Papyrus Mentioning Dhimma, 60s AH / 680s CE.

... li-ahli Nessana dhimmat Allāhi wa dhimmat rasūlihi.
...[ ] due to him payment, and the people of Nessana have the protection of God and the protection of His mess[eng]er.

Along with a drachm of ʿAbd al-Malik ibn ʿAbd Allāh, Zubayrid Governor of Bīshāpūr, 66 AH / 685-686 CE, this piece of evidence is amongst the earliest datable documentary texts to mention Muhammad indirectly.

📌 A Lead Seal In The Name Of Caliph ʿAbd Al-Malik Ibn Marwān, 65-86 AH / 685-705 CE.

It include:

Lā ilāha illa-Allāh waḥdahu la sharīka lahu Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ...

There is no god but God alone without partner and Muhammad is the Messenger of God ...

This is a remarkable and unique lead piece in the name of the Caliph ʿAbd al-Malik was either struck or cast in Palestine. It bears several interesting decorative elements, including addorsed lions and confronting birds. It is not clear what is the purpose of it. The large ‘A’ in the center of the obverse is similar to the symbol for "one" (i.e., alpha) on Byzantine weights. However, the author Artuk believes ‘A’ stands for ʿAbd al-Malik. On the obverse margin is the Islamic profession of faith. Grabar is of the opinion that this unique object may be earlier than the reformed coins. He also stresses the crucial points of the multiplicity of themes (Islamic and Byzantine in this case) and their levels of utilization which coexisted at anyone time.

📌 A Half Syrian Raṭl In The Name Of Caliph ʿAbd Al-Malik Ibn Marwān, 65-86 AH / 685-705 CE.

It include:

Bism Allāh Lā ilāha illa-Allāh waḥdahu Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ...

In the name of God. There is not but God He is one, Muḥammad is the Messenger of God ...

📌 Seven milestones on the Damascus-Jerusalem road from the reign of ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Marwan, 65-86 AH / 685-705 CE.

It include:

Bism Allāh al-raḥmān al-raḥīm lā ilāha illa-Allāh waḥdahu la sharīka lahu Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ...

In the name of God the Compassionate the Merciful. There is no god but God alone without partner and Muhammad is the Messenger of God ...

📌 Drachm Of ʿAbd al-Malik Ibn ʿAbd Allāh, Zubayrid Governor Of Bīshāpūr, 66 AH / 685-686 CE.

In 66 AH / 685-686 CE, the year after ʿAbd al-Malik accession (Ramaḍān 65 AH / April- May 685 CE), the Zubayrid governor of Bīshāpūr, ʿAbd al-Malik ibn ʿAbd Allāh [b. ʿĀmir], issued a silver drachm that bore the short shahāda: bism Allāh Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ("In the name of God, Muḥammad is the Messenger of God"). The issue was repeated in 67 AH / 686-687 CE.

📌 John bar Penkaye, 67-68 AH / 687 CE

Little is known about John bar Penkaye. He was a native of Fenek in north-western Mesopotamia and a resident of the monastery of John Kamul. It was in this monastery he wrote Ktābā d-rīš mellē ("Book of the Salient Points") and dedicated it to a person called Sabrisho‘, the abbott of this convent. In his book John bar Penkaye wrote the chronicle of the world from Creation to his present day which he calls as the "severe chastisement of today". His work seeks to treat the salient points of history in a brief fashion. For the issue which concerns us here, it is discussed in the fifteenth and the last chapter, where the Arab conquests and the devastating famine and plague of 67 AH / 686-67 CE are mentioned. Concerning Muhammad, John bar Penkaye says that:

Having let their dispute run its course, after much fighting had taken place between them, the Westerners, whom they call the sons of ’Ammāyē, gained the victory, and one of their number, a man called M‘awyā [i.e., Mu‘awiya], became king controlling the two kingdoms, of the Persians and of the Byzantines. Justice flourished in his time, and there was great peace in the regions under his control; he allowed everyone to live as they wanted. For they held, as I have said above, an ordinance, stemming from the man who was their guide (mhaddyānā), concerning the people of the Christians and concerning the monastic station. Also as a result of this man's guidance (mhaddyānūtā) they held to the worship of One God, in accordance with the customs of ancient law. At the beginnings they kept to the traditions (mašlmānūtā) of Muḥammad, who was their instructor (tā’rā), to such an extent that they inflicted the death penalty on anyone who was seen to act brazenly against his laws.

John bar Penkaye presented Muhammad as the "guide" and "instructor" whose "traditions" and "laws" the Arabs fiercely upheld. The term "tradition" (Syr. mašlmānūtā) implies that something is handed down, which suggests that the Muslims adhered to and enforced the example of Prophet Muhammad. Concerning the term mhaddyānūtā, Brock points out that:

There is, however, one interesting term used for Mụhammad that terms up in both Monophysite and Nestorian sources, namely mhaddyana, "guide", a term that has no obvious ancestry, although the related haddaya is a Christological title in early Syriac literature.

📌 Tombstone Of ʿAbāssa Bint Juraij, 71 AH / 691 CE

Date: 14th Dhul-Qaʿdah, 71 AH / 19th April, 691 CE

It include:

... ahl al-Islām muṣībatahum bi al-nabī Muḥammad ṣallā-Allāhu alayhi wa-sallam... wa tashhadu lā ilāha illā-allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu wa anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūlahu, ṣallā-Allāhu alayhi wa-sallam.

The greatest calamity of the people of Islām is that which has fallen them on the death of Prophet Muhammad, may God grant him peace.... [she died] confessing that there is no god but God alone without partner and that Muhammad is His servant and His apostle, may God grant him peace.

📌 Transitional Arab-Sassanian Coin Of Governor ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz Ibn ʿAbd Allāh Ibn Āmir, 72 AH / 691-92 CE.

Reverse field: The legend in Middle Persian reads - YZDT’ -I BR’ ‘LH ’HRN YZDT’ L‘YT’ MḤMT’ PTGMBI Y YZDT’ ("One God, but He, another god does not exist. Muhammad is the Messenger of God").

📌 Anonymous Arab-Sassanian Coinage Of Syrian Origin Under ʿAbd al-Malik, 72 AH / 691 CE.

Obverse field: Written in Arabic to downwards to the right of the bust: Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ("Muhammad is the Messenger of God").

📌 The Arabic Islamic Inscriptions On The Dome Of The Rock In Jerusalem, 72 AH / 692 CE

Outer Octagonal Arcade

Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ṣallā-Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam... Muhammad rasūl Allāh inna allāha wa malā'ikatahu yusallūna ʿala al-nabīyi yā ayyuhā al-ladhīna āmanū ṣallū ʿalayhi wa sallimū taslīman... Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ṣallā-Allāhu ʿalayhi wa malā'ikatahu wa rusulu wa al-taslīman ʿalayhi wa raḥmat Allāh... Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ṣallā-Allāhu ʿalayhi wa taqabbal shafāʿatahu yawm al-qiyamah... Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ṣallā-Allāhu ʿalayhi.

Muhammad is the Messenger of God, may God grant him peace... Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Verily God and His Angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe, bless him and salute him with a salutation!... Muhammad is the Messenger of God, the blessing of God be on him and the angels and His prophets, and peace be on him, and may God have mercy... Muhammad is the Messenger of God, the blessing of God be on him. May He accept his intercession on the Day of Judgment [on behalf of his people]... Muhammad is the Messenger of God, the blessing of God be on him.

Inner Octagonal Arcade

Muḥammad ʿabd-Allāhi wa rasūluhu inna allāha wa malā'ikatahu yusallūna ʿala al-nabīyi yā ayyuhā al-ladhīna āmanū ṣallū ‘alayhi wa sallimū taslīman ṣallā-Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam ʿalayhi wa raḥmat Allāh.

Muhammad is the servant of God and His Messenger. Verily God and His Angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe, bless him and salute him with a salutation! The blessing of God be on him and peace be on him, and may God have mercy.

📌 The Copper Plaque Inscriptions At The Dome Of The Rock In Jerusalem, 72 AH / 692 CE.

Northern Portal

Muḥammad ʿabd-Allāhi wa rasūluhu arsalahu bi-l-huda wa dīn al-ḥaqq liyudhhiru ʿala al-dini kullahi wa-law karih-al-mushrikūn. Āmannā billāhi wa mā unzila ila Muḥammad wa mā ūtiya al-nabīyūna min rabbihim lā nufarriqu bayna aḥadin minhum wa naḥnu lahu muslimūn. ṣallū ʿalayhi Muḥammad ʿabduhu wa nabīyahu wa al-salām ʿalayhi wa raḥmat Allāhi wa barakātuhu wa magfiratuhu wa riḍawānahu.

Muhammad is the servant of God and His Messenger whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth that He might make it prevail over all religions even if the associators are averse. We believe in God and that which was revealed unto Muhammad and that which the Prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. The blessing of God be upon Muhammad, His servant and His prophet, and peace be upon him and the mercy of God and His blessing and His forgiveness and His acceptance.

Eastern Entrance

... an ta-ṣallī ʿala Muḥammad ʿabdika wa nabīyika wa tataqabbala shafā'atahu fī ummati ṣallū ʿalayhi wa al-salām ʿalayhi wa raḥmat Allāhi wa...

... that You bless Muhammad Your servant, Your prophet, and that You accept his intercession for his people, the blessing of God be upon him and peace be upon him and the mercy of God and...

📌 The Arab-Byzantine “Three Standing Imperial Figures” Dīnār From The Time Of Umayyad Caliph ʿAbd al-Malik, 72-74 AH / 692-694 CE.

It include:

bism Allāh lā-ilaha il-Allāh waḥdahu Muḥammad rasūl Allāh.

In the name of God. There is no god but God alone. Muḥammad is the Messenger of God.

📌 Fragments Of The Chart Of Jacob (= James) Of Edessa, 73 AH / 692 CE.

Jacob (also called James) of Edessa (19-90 AH / 640-708 CE) was a bishop of Edessa. He composed a set of chronological charts intended to continue those of Eusebius. Only fragments from 10th or 11th century remain, covering the 7th century only down to 631 CE. Elias of Nisbis (975-1050 CE) informs us that Jacob of Edessa composed his chronicle in 1003 AG / 692 CE and this is confirmed by Michael the Syrian (12th century) who cites Theodosius of Edessa. Brooks has convincingly demonstrated that this chronicle was a work of Jacob's but with a qualification that it "is not the full work of Jacob but only a series of extracts from it".

The manuscript is arranged in three columns. A central column counts off the years since Constantine and the regnal years of the Byzantine and Persians emperors; historical notices are placed on either side.

In the central column, giving the dates of the rulers, there are entries for the following years:

[296 = 932 AG / 622 CE] Muhammad, the first king of the Arabs, began to reign, 7 years.....

[303 = 939 AG / 629 CE] No. 2 of the Arabs, Abu Bakr, 2 years, 7 months.

On the left hand side of the column are the following notices:

[Beside years 293 and 294] and Muhammad goes down on commercial businesses to the lands of Palestine and of the Arabias and of Phoenicia of the Tyrians.

There was a solar eclipse.....

Beginning of the kingdom of the Arabs whom we call Tayyōyē, while Heraclius, king of the Romans, was having his eleventh year and while Chosroes, king of the Persians, was having his thirty first year [i.e., 620-21 CE].

[Beside years 301 and 302] The Arabs began to carry out raids in the land of Palestine.

Muhammad's trading is placed beside years 293 and 294 = 929 AG / 617-18 CE and 930 AG / 618-19 CE, but before the mention of the solar eclipse. The start of the "kingdom of Arabs" is tied to the rulership of kings of Byzantine and Persians empires and is placed in 620-21 CE. The Arabs' raids are placed beside the year 301 and 302 = 937 AG / 625-26 CE and 938 AG / 626-27 CE.

It is interesting to note that Jacob of Edessa gives an accurate date for the start of the Arab era. He seems to have assumed that the Arab era like the ones during his time such as Byzantine and Persian eras must have been reckoned from the first year of the rule of a king, presumably their first king. Since the Arabs reckoned from 622 CE, i.e., the start of hijra calender, Jacob might have assumed that their first king, i.e., Muhammad, must have started to rule that year.

📌 The ʿAqabah Inscription From The Time Of ʿAbd al-Malik, 73 AH / 692-693 CE.

This is the oldest inscription in Islam relating to the inaugral of a road and it is also the second longest and almost the fullest inscription from the time of ‘Abd al-Malik after that of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem.

It include:

Bism Allāh al-raḥmān al-raḥīm lā ilāha il-l-allāh waḥdahu la sharīka lahu Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ...

In the name of God the Compassionate the Merciful. There is no god but God alone without partner and Muhammad is the Messenger of God ...

📌 Aniconic Silver Coins ("Reformed Coinage"), Minted By The Umayyad Caliph ʿAbd al-Malik, From 77 AH / 696 CE.

Date:

79 AH / 698-699 CE.

Contents:

Obverse field: lā-ilaha il-Allāh waḥdahu la sharīkalahu ("There is no god but God alone, He has no associate"). Obverse margin: bism Allāh ḍuriba hadhā al-dirham bi-r-rāmhurmuz fī sanat tisʿ wa sabʿīn ("In the name of God, this dirham was struck in Rāmhurmuz in the year 79").

Reverse field: Allāhu aḥad Allāhu al-ṣamad lam yalid wa-lam yulad wa-lam yakun lahu kufūwan aḥad ("God the one, God the eternal, He did not beget and was not begotten. And there is none like unto Him"). Reverse margin: Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahu bi-l-huda wa dīn al-ḥaqq liyudhhiru ʿala al-dini kullahi wa-law karih-al-mushrikūn ("Muḥammad is the messenger of God whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth that He might make it prevail over all religions even if the associators are averse").

📌 The Gospel Of The Twelve Apostles, 72 - 87 AH / 692 - 705 CE.

Though attributed to the apostle John, this is a pseudonymous apocalyptic work containing four distinct sections the last of which deals with Islamic rule, covering the conquests and the beginnings of the Umayyad dynasty.

God shall send forth a mighty wind, the southern one, and there shall come forth from it a people of deformed aspect and their appearance and manners like those of women. And there shall rise up from among them a warrior and one whom they call a prophet, and they shall be brought into his hands....And the South shall prosper, and by the hooves of the horses of its armies it shall trample down and subdue Persia and devastate Rome.

In keeping with several other Christian texts of this period, Muhammad is described as a warrior whom his followers call a prophet.

📌 Chronicle Of John Of Nikiou, c. 80-81 AH / c. 700 CE.

This chronicle apparently written by John, bishop of Nikiou, relates the events from Creation until the conclusion of the Arab conquest of Egypt. Presented with a strong Christian view, the chronicle is considered one of the main independent and reliable sources of information regarding the conquest of Egypt and its aftermath.

Many of the Egyptians who had been false Christians denied the holy orthodox faith and life-giving baptism, and embraced the religion of the Muslims, the enemies of God, and accepted the detestable doctrine of the beast, this is, Muḥammad.

Despite describing Muhammad in unflattering terms, the author notes he possessed a distinct doctrine.

📌 Arab-Sassanian Fals From Veh-az-Āmid-Kavād (Arrajān), 83 AH / 702-703 CE.

Date

83 AH / 702-703 CE.

Contents

Obverse field: Bust with two bearded and moustached faces back to back, each bearing half a merlon crown surmounted by two wings and a crescent. The dress is represented in two halves as well. Written in the Middle Persian ḥwbḥtyḥ W pl'ḥwyḥ ("Fortune and Prosperity"). Obverse margin: Muḥammadun rasūlu’llāhi wa’lladhīna yatlūna maʿahu ashiddāʾu ʿalā’l-kuffāri ruḥamāʾu baynahum ("Muḥammad is the Messenger of God, those who recite with him are severe [in their dealings] with the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves").

Reverse field: Typical Arab-Sassanian fire-altar with attendants. Left hand side date ‘83’ and to the right is the mint name ‘WYHC’, i.e., Veh-az-Āmid-Kavād =(Arrajān). Reverse margin: ‘lwb'k’ ("Current").

📌 Inscription In A Mosque In Damascus, Built By Caliph Walīd, 86-87 AH / 705-706 CE.

... rabbuna-Allāhu waḥdahu wa dīnunā al-islām wa nabīyyunā Muḥammad ṣallā-allāhu alayhi wa sallam.

... Our Lord is God alone, and our religion is Islam and our prophet is Muhammad, may God grant him peace.

📌 Aniconic Gold Coins (“Reformed Coinage”), From The ‘Mine Of The Commander Of The Faithful’, 89 AH / 708 CE.

This unique historic coin is of the highest rarity and the earliest known dīnār to bear the legend ‘Mine of the Commander of the Faithful’. The reverse margin bears the same legend as what is seen on the aniconic silver and gold coins issued by Umayyad caliph ʿAbd al-Malik.

Reverse margin: Muḥammad rasūl Allāh arsalahu bi-l-huda wa dīn al-ḥaqq liyudhhiru ʿala al-dini kullahi wa-law karih-al-mushrikūn.

Muhammad is the Messenger of God whom He sent with guidance and the religion of truth that He might make it prevail over all religions even if the associators are averse.

📌 A Byzantine Weight Validated by Al-Walīd, c. 90 AH / 708-709 CE.

Date

c. 90 AH / 708-709 CE.

Contents

Obverse field: Within a border consisting of recurrent semicircles bearing dots within and at the points of junction of the semicircles. There is a Greek cross, and to its left and right respectively, the Greek letters Γ and B (i.e., two ounces).

Reverse Margin / Centre: In the name of God. Muḥammad is the Messenger of God. Equity is God's. This is [a weight] of two ounces which Servant of God al-Walīd has established / Commander of the Faithful.

📌 Ad Annum 705, 86-96 AH / 705-15 CE.

It is list of Arab rulers found in a late 9th century manuscript with an unknown provenance and presumably incomplete since the promised statistics regarding Muslim occupied lands do not appear. The dating of this manuscript is done using the accession date of Walid mentioned in the chronology, who reigned from 705-15 CE. The relevant text states:

Again a report giving the information about the kingdom of Arabs and how many kings they produced and how much land each of them held after his predecessor previous to his death.

Muhammad came upon the earth in 932 of Alexander, son of Philip the Macedonian [i.e., 620-21 CE]; he reigned for seven years.

After him Abu Bakr reigned for 2 years...

This chronicle also provides similar dates just as what we have seen in the case of the chart of Jacob of Edessa.

📌 An Inscription Containing The Shahadah, 96 AH / 715 CE.

Date

Shawwāl, 96 AH / June, 715 CE

Contents

The translation of the inscription is given below:

Farqad bin Nāfiʿ testifies that there is no deity but God and He is One
with no partner and Muḥammad is His slave and messenger.
And he wrote it in (the month of) Shawwāl in the year six and ninety.

Comments

Dated inscriptions containing the full shahadah or the Islamic testament of faith are uncommon. Apart from the tombstone of ʿAbāssa bint Juraij (71 AH), inscriptions from the Dome of the Rock (72 AH), and reconstruction of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām (78 AH), this inscription is a fine example from the first 100 years of Islam showing the shahadah.

📌 The History Of The Patriarchs Of Alexandria, c. 96 - 97 AH / c. 715 CE.

This collection was written by George the Archdeacon and contains a wealth of information regarding Muslim-Christian relations in Egypt in the decades after the conquests.

And in those days Heraclius saw a dream in which it was said to him : «Verily there shall come against thee a circumcised nation, and they shall vanquish thee and take possession of the land». So Heraclius thought that they would be the Jews, and accordingly gave orders that all the Jews and Samaritans should be baptized in all the provinces which were under his dominion. But after a few days there appeared a man of the Arabs, from the southern districts, that is to say, from Mecca or its neighbourhood, whose name was Muhammad; and he brought back the worshippers of idols to the knowledge of the One God, and bade them declare that Muhammad was his apostle; and his nation were circumcised in the flesh, not by the law, and prayed towards the South, turning towards a place which they called the Kaabah. And he took possession of Damascus and Syria, and crossed the Jordan, and dammed it up. And the Lord abandoned the army of the Romans before him, as a punishment for their corrupt faith, and because of the anathemas uttered against them, on account of the council of Chalcedon, by the ancient fathers.

…

After fighting three battles with the Romans, the Muslims conquered them. So when the chief men of the city saw these things, they went to Amr, and received a certificate of security for the city, that it might not be plundered. This kind of treaty which Muhammad, the chief of the Arabs, taught them, they called the Law; and he says with regard to it : «As for the province of Egypt and any city that agrees with its inhabitants to pay the land-tax to you, and to submit to your authority, make a treaty with them, and do them no injury. But plunder and take as prisoners those that will not consent to this and resist you». For this reason the Muslims kept their hands off the province and its inhabitants, but destroyed the nation of the Romans, and their general who was named Marianus. And those of the Romans who escaped fled to Alexandria, and shut its gates upon the Arabs, and fortified themselves within the city.

The author notes Muhammad originated from Mecca or its environs, that he told his followers he was a prophet and invited them to worship one God and cast aside their idolatrous practices. They were circumcised in the flesh and prayed in the direction towards the Kaʿaba. Muhammad was the chief of the Arabs and initiated a form of legislation for them to practice.

📌 Arab-Latin Coinage - Bilingual Gold Solidus From Africa, 98 AH / 716-717 CE.

Date

98 AH / 716-717 CE.

Contents

Obverse field: lā-ilaha il-Allāh ("There is no god but God alone"). Obverse margin: SLDFRTINAFRKANCVIII {= "SoLiDus FeRiTus IN AFRiKa ANno XCVIII"} ("Solidus made in Africa in the Year 98").

Reverse field: Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ("Muḥammad is the Messenger of God"). Reverse margin: INNDNINDSNSSISNDCVNSM {= "IN Nomine DomiNI Non DeuS NiSSI Deus CUi Non SiMilis"} ("In the name of the Lord. There is no god but God, nothing is similar to Him").

📌 Arab-Latin Coinage - Bilingual Gold Solidus From Spain, 98 AH / 716-717 CE.

Date

98 AH / 716-717 CE.

Contents

Obverse field: Eight pointed star in the middle. Obverse margin: FERITOSSOLIINSPANAN {= "FeRITOS SOLIdus IN SPANia ANno"} ("Solidus made in Spain in the Year (omitted)").

Reverse field: Muḥammad rasūl Allāh ("Muḥammad is the Messenger of God"). Reverse margin: ḍuriba hadhā al-dīnār bi-al-andalus sanat thamān wa tisʿīn ("In the name of God, this dīnār was struck in Al-Andalus the year 98").

📌 An Arabic Inscription From Khirbat Nitil, 100 AH / 718-719 CE.

Date

100 AH / 718-19 CE.

Contents

The translation of the inscription is:

O God! Forgive ʿAbd-
al-ʿAzīz bin al-Ḥārith bin
al-Ḥakam his faults,
those that are passed and those to come
and gather him and his offspring
in an abode of
your mercy and s[et him on]
the pool of Muḥammad ...

Location

This inscription was discovered in 1886 at the archaeological site of Khirbat Nitil. The eight lines are located in an inner vaulted room in the western wall. They cover a space of 37 cm x 44 cm, though the lower left corner is mutiliated, include the date 100 AH / 718-19 CE (not shown in the trace). Notice the dot below for غ in line 1.

The inscription mentions hawḍ Muḥammad, i.e., the pool of Prophet Muḥammad in the Paradise, from which the believers will drink. This pool is mentioned in many ḥadiths.

💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎💎

There is still more evidence left. But I need to shorten this post.

If you are more sceptic, then just search in Google: "Who was the most significant person in history?"