The Final Prophet by Christine Huda Dodge
Muslims believe that God sent down messengers and prophets to every nation. Some are mentioned in the Qur'an by name, while others are not. These prophets and messengers brought the same message to each of their peoples: to worship One God alone and to follow His guidance. Over time, those teachings were lost or corrupted, and new prophets and messengers were sent to confirm the previous teachings. Muslims believe that Muhammad was the final prophet to be sent to us by God.
Muslim tradition holds that there have been more than 124,000 prophets sent to mankind throughout history, beginning with Adam and ending with Muhammad. Only twenty-five are mentioned by name in the Qur'an, and Muslims do not speculate about the identities of others.
Muslims believe that because Muhammad was the final prophet, he was sent to all of mankind. He re-established faith in the unity of God and revealed God's guidance in matters of faith, worship, and daily living, which are preserved in the Qur'an. During his lifetime, he arbitrated disputes, gave counsel to his followers, and set an example of piety and sacrifice. For this reason, Muslims educate themselves about his life and try to follow the personal example he set.
While Muslims look to Muhammad as an example to follow, they do not worship him or put him on a pedestal. Worship is for God alone, and the Qur'an makes it clear that “Muhammad was no more than a messenger; many were the messengers that passed away before him” (Qur'an 3:144).
Muhammad the Prophet
Early Life in Mecca