Taken from
The Un-schooled Prohet
By Allama Murtaza Mutahhari
Chapter III.

                                 Conclusion
                                 ----------

        It is inferred from what has already been stated
        that according to the definite testimony of history,
        Qur'anic proofs and abundant indications deduced
        from the history of Islam, the Holy Prophet's (PBUH&HF)
        mind was untouched by human teaching. He was a
        man taught only in the divine school and who
        received his knowledge from Him alone. He was a
        flower fostered by the Pre-eternal Gardener and
        none else.

        Although Allah (SWT) has nothing to do with
        the pen, paper, ink, reading and writing, He swore
        by the pen and its manifestations as a sacred mat-
        ter in His Holy Book:

          Nun' I swear by the pen and what they write 
          Quran (68:1). 

        Allah (SWT) also commanded "reading" in His first 
        heavenly message and introduced the knowledge and 
        art of using the pen as the greatest blessing 
        bestowed on man after the blessing of "creation". 
        The Holy Qur'an states:

          Read in the name of your Lord Who created.
          He created man from a clot. Read and your
          Lord is Most Honourable; Who taught (to
          write) with the pen; taught man what he
          knew not (96:1-5).

        In fact, the one who had not held a pen in his
        hand, established the "Pen Movement" immediate-
        ly after his arrival in Madinah by providing simple
        facilities. Although he had neither been tutored by
        man nor had he attended any universities or the
        like, he turned out to be man's teacher and the
        founder of universities. Hafiz. remarks:

          Brightened and made Heaven's grace manifest,
          He healed our wandering heart and our
          wounded chest.
          He, who attended no school, was dear of
          mine,
          Hundreds of tutors were taught with his
          knowledge, divine.
          And his graceful glance filled the lovers with
          spirits raised,
          The knowledge and wisdom both got amazed.
          
        Imam 'Ali al-Rida (AS), in his discussion with
        the people following other religions, addressed
        Ra's al-Jalut:

          Among the true reasons of his prophethood
          is that the Prophet was an orphan, a poor
          shepherd and a worker who had not read any
          books and had not been taught; yet, he
          brought a book in which there are the stories
          of prophets and the information regarding
          both past and future generations.

        What reveals more reasonably the loftiness,
        grandeur and heavenliness of the Holy Qur'an is
        the fact that this great divine Book, with myriad
        instructions concerning the creation, the Resur-
        rection, human beings, morality, law, admonitory
        stories and sermons-with all its grace, beauty and
        eloquence-was issued from the tongue of the one
        who was himself unlettered, who neither attended
        any school or college nor received any university
        education and who neither met any of his contem-
        porary scholars nor read a simple book of his time.
        
        The sign and miracle that Allah (SWT) granted
        to His last Prophet (PBUH&HF) was the book and writing,
        of speech and meditation, and of feelings and senses.
        It deals with wisdom, thoughts, the heart and mind.
        This Holy Book has shown for centuries, and still
        shows, its extraordinary spiritual authority. The
        passage of time cannot make it obsolete. It has
        fascinated, and continues to fascinate, millions and
        millions of hearts. It brims over with a life-sustain-
        ing power. What thoughtful minds it has induced
        to meditation! What numerous hearts it has over-
        flown with spiritual enthusiasm! What countless
        nightingales of dawn and those keeping a night
        vigil it has spiritually fed! What tears it has caused
        to flow on cheeks at midnight out of love for
        Allah (SWT) and fear of Him. And what enslaved
        and chained nations has it emancipated from the
        claws of tyranny and despotism.
        
        The poet says:

          As the Qur'an's seal shone all and every-
          where,
          The Pope's plans it shattered and of the
          Magi's here and there.
          Let's open what I really feel in essence,
          It is not a simple book but has a difference.
          It transforms into whosoever's soul it enters,
          Like the transformed soul, the world also
          alters.
          It is clear like "truth", but hard to reach,
          Alive, everlasting, a manifest speech.

        Yes, to enlighten more clearly that the Qur'an
        is a revelation and a miracle for the human beings
        Allah (SWT), the Everlasting Grace, revealed it to
        one among His servants who was an orphan, a
        poor shepherd and a desert-rover and an untaught
        and unschooled man.

          That is Allah's grace; He grants it to whom
          He wills, and Allah is of abounding bounty
          (62:4). 
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