Isaiah 40:3-5

This is one of the glad tidings that speaks of the mission of the Prophet Muḥammad and his call to monotheism and faith in Allāh. The glad tiding mentions a calling voice, which is the revelation of the Qur’ān. This caused a new path to exist, Islam, which is made clear and easy in the barren deserts. This verse likens polytheism with the deserts, mountains, and hills, due to the difficulty of traversing them. It also likened the crooked path with rough places like narrow paths in the mountains, and then references the low place to mean the sunken one, from which it is difficult for people to rise. This is because polytheism is difficult and unacceptable to the intellect. The polytheist is stubborn against his own mind and lives in turmoil, as he directs himself to other than Allāh, and this is contrary to the human natural disposition (Fitrah) upon which Allāh created people.

The message of the Prophet Muḥammad, brought about a radical and positive change. The difficult and twisted ways of polytheism were abolished and replaced by the direct and easy Way of Islam because the voice of guidance spread among people through the Qur’ān, which is the spoken word of the Lord. Thus, the path became clear and easy, and people entered the religion of Islam. Here, the glory of the Lord was revealed, i.e., His true religion, and all people saw it, as mentioned in the prophecy and as is happening now. So the glad tiding was fulfilled, and praise be to Allāh.

It should be known that this glad tiding does not apply to anyone other than Muḥammad. The religions before him were altered, their scriptures distorted, and their prophets and reformers killed by the hands of the Children of Israel themselves. Their rebuke for these actions is found in the Torah itself. So it is not correct to say that the glory of the Lord was revealed in those religions.

So, this glad tiding is applicable only to Muḥammad, because his religion is preserved. For the Qur’ān is preserved, and his Ḥadīth are preserved, and his biography is preserved. All people have seen the glory of Allāh through the Prophet Muḥammad, and his message reached the east and the west, fulfilling this prophecy. All praise be to Allāh, Lord of the worlds.

NOTE:

This glad tiding is similar to the one mentioned in the Book of Psalms, Chapter 149, which mentions Zion, referring to Mecca. It also mentions singing on their beds, which refers to the adhkar (remembrances), glorifications, and verses recited before sleep. It further mentions victory over nations, which is what occurred through the Prophet Muḥammad and his righteous successors after him, who fought the Byzantines, the Persians, and others, spread Islam, combated tyranny, and established justice with the sword.”