To approach the stories of kings and potentates, as well as the movements and vicissitudes of tribes, nations and masses from a proper historical perspective seems to be an unattainable objective. Something is needed more than human intelligence, the empirical method, and rigid scientific criteria; and the only possible source for undefiled knowledge is through religious revelation.

As Muslims, we believe that the most historical figure in the histories of Divine Revelation is the person of Muhammad, Prayer and Peace be upon him. To arrive to that belief is easy for anyone who reads the Qur'an with an open-minded, and unbiased effort at understanding its glorious message.

The history of Muhammad and `Al-Qur'an are one and inseparable; and nothing can bear witness more convincingly to Muhammad's truthfulness than `Al Qur'an; and that explains why quotations from `Al-Qur'an abound in the following pages. The original Arabic verses are presented, because translations can never be a substitute for a Divine revelation; and the evidence from translations of other Scriptures is not enough encouragement for those who want to publish `Al-Quran in other languages without the Arabic original.

The importance of the message of `Al-Qur'an to the modern world is of most relevance, since the political and social aspects of Islam in the First State in `Al-Madinah have been overshadowed by the interest in the usual chronological presentation of Mohammad's life from birth to death. This explains the logic behind the unconventional order of the chapters of this presentation. What the world now needs probably more than anything else, is the conception and establishment of a state that is religious, non-secular, non-imperialistic and non-totalitarian, that can face man's modern problems in the light of the One Creator and his Divine law of justice, consultation, integrity, mercy and love.

It is in the realization of the significance of the first Muslim State that lies the future hope for Muslims and the world. Failure to establish a Muslim State today will carry with it incalculable potentialities for universal tragedy.