Sahar-ul-Nisa Haroon
Prophets are the chosen human beings of elevated moral values and standards. The appointment of a prophet is the sole prerogative and responsibility of Allah. We all know them as “Nabi” and this word is derived from the word ‘naba’ which means news. [What are they asking one another about? About the naba (great news; naba al azeem…(Quran; 78:1-2)]
Nabi is the one to whom Allah sent revelation through his choicest angels. Allah mentioned some messengers as both Prophets and messengers. “And mentions Quran about Moosa {a.w}: Verily, he was chosen and He was a Messenger and a prophet” (19:51). Prophet (SAW) mentioned that the number of prophets were 1, 24000 and the number of Messengers were three hundred and in tens. (Musnad Ahmad).
Allah created universe with a purpose “Does man think that he will be left Sudaa (without a purpose)? (Quran 75:36). One of Allah’s ways of guidance is the office of Messengership which involves the Message and the Messenger. The essence of the Message is to direct man to relate to His Creator through complete submission and obedience (this is the meaning of Islam). It brings man to live for a noble purpose.
“And they say: there is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live, and nothing destroys us expect the Dahr (time). And they have no knowledge of it, they only conjecture”(Qur’an 45:24).
This is part of man’s purpose on earth. Man’s whole life is related to His creator: “ Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, the Rabb of the World, He has no partner.(Qur’an 6:162-163)
After believing in Allah, it follows that we have to believe in the prophets that communicated Allah’s Message. The best of mankind and most close to Him are His chosen Messengers. They are the ones who received Allah’s salaam (peace). Messengers explained all that is good and how to attain it. They informed us of Allah’s attributes and how one can worship Him properly. They carried on the most honorable task of calling people to the Tawheed of Allah.
Revelation is a form of communication between Allah and His chosen Prophet. “The Quran says that there are three basic channels of communicating Allah’s message. All of them are summarized in one passage in the Quran, “It is not fitting for a man that Allah should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by the sending of a messenger to reveal, with Allah’s permission, what Allah wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise.”(Quran 42:51).
Belief in messengers entails:
1) We believe in every single messenger especially those about whom we are informed. Allah (SWT) says “Verily, those who disbelieve in Allah and His messengers and wish to make distinction between Allah and His messengers (by believing in Allah and disbelieving in His messengers) saying, “we believe in some but reject others,” and wish to adopt a way in between. They are in truth disbelievers, and we have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating torment (Quran 4:150-151)
2) All the prophets and messengers have no divine attributes “Muhammad (SAW) is no more than a messenger, and indeed (many) messengers have passed away before him… (Quran 3:144)
3) Believing in the sound reports that have been narrated from the Messengers.
4) To act in accordance with the laws of the Messenger who was sent to us. “But no, by your Lord, they can have Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission (Quran4:65)
Allah concluded all messages with the message of Muhmmad (pbuh), to all mankind. “Say, ‘O mankind, I am Allah’s Messenger to you all. To Him belongs the Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth; there is no God but He. He ordains life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet who believes in Allah and His words. Follow him so that you may be rightly guided” (Quran 7:158).
(The author is research scholar, Aligarh Muslim University. This is a part of her series of writings on Islam. Send your contributions to [email protected])
