OTHER PROPHETS

OTHER PROPHETS

Shaikh Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid

When Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) sent Adam down to the earth and his descendents spread out, He did not forsake them. Rather He gave them provision and sent down to him and his descendents revelation. So some of them believed and some of them disbelieved: Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) said in Quraan (interpretation of the meaning):

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلَالَةُ [النحل: 36]

“We did raise a messenger among every people, with the message: ‘Worship Allah and stay away from the Taaghoot (all false deities or every rebel of God). Then, there were some among them whom Allah guided, and there were others against whom deviation (from the right path) was established.” (Al-Nahl 16:36)

There are four heavenly books which Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) sent down. They are the Tawraat (Torah), Injeel (Gospel), Zaboor (Psalms) and the Quraan. Quraan itself states: (interpretation of the meaning):

نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنْزَلَ التَّوْرَاةَ وَالْإِنْجِيلَ [آل عمران: 3]

“He has revealed to you the Book with the truth, confirming what has been before it, and has sent down the Torah and the Injeel” (Aale ‘Imraan 3:3)

And Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) further says (interpretation of the meaning):

وَآتَيْنَا دَاوُودَ زَبُورًا [الإسراء: 55]

"and to Daawood (David) We gave the Zaboor (Psalms).” (Al-Israa 17:55)

The Prophets and Messengers were many, and no one knows their exact number except Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa). Among them are those of whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has told us, and some of whom He has not told us (interpretation of the meaning):

وَرُسُلًا قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَرُسُلًا لَمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ [النساء: 164]

“)We have sent) some Messengers We have already told you about, and some other Messengers We did not tell you about,” (Al-Nisaa 4:164)

It is obligatory to believe in all the Books which Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has revealed and in all the Prophets and Messengers whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has sent, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا آمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي نَزَّلَ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَالْكِتَابِ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا [النساء: 136]

“O you who believe! Do believe in Allah and His Messenger and in the Book He has revealed to His Messenger and in the Books He has revealed earlier. Whoever disbelieves in Allah and His angels and His Books and His Messengers and the Last Day has indeed gone far astray.” (Al-Nisaa 4:136)

Rasool (Messenger) and Nabi (Prophet) are two names with the same meaning, which is someone whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) sent to call the people to worship Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) alone, one of the Prophets and Messengers whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) chose and sent to His slaves to convey His religion (interpretation of the meaning):

رُسُلًا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنْذِرِينَ لِئَلَّا يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللَّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا [النساء: 165]

“Messengers giving good tidings and warning, so that people may have no plea against Allah after the Messengers (have come). Allah is All- Mighty, All-Wise.” (Al-Nisaa 4:165)

The Prophets and Messengers are many, of whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has mentioned twenty five in the Quraan, and we are obliged to believe in all of them. They are: Aadam, Idrees, Nooh, Hood, Saalih, Ibraaheem, Loot, Ismaa’eel, Ishaaq, Ya’qoob, Yousuf, Shu’aib, Ayyoob, Zu’l-Kifl, Moosaa, Haaroon, Daawood, Sulaimaan, Ilyaas, al-Yasa’, Younus, Zakariyyaa, Yahyaa, ‘Eesaa and Muhammad – blessings and peace be upon them all.

The Quraan is the greatest and last of the heavenly Books, and it abrogates the books which came before it and is a witness over them, so we must follow it and ignore those which came before it (interpretation of the meaning):

وَأَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُهَيْمِنًا عَلَيْهِ فَاحْكُمْ بَيْنَهُمْ بِمَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ [المائدة: 48]

“We have sent down to you the Book with truth, confirming the Book before it, and a protector for it. So, judge between them according to what Allah has sent down….” (Al-Maaidah 5:48)

Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) chose Messengers and Prophets from among the sons of Adam, and sent them to each nation, and commanded them to call them to worship Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) alone and to explain the ways which would bring happiness in this world and in the Aakhirah (Hereafter), and to bring glad tidings of Jannah (Paradise) to those who believed and the warning of Jahannum (Hell) to those who disbelieved (interpretation of the meaning):

وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلَالَةُ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ [النحل: 36]

“We did raise a messenger among every people, with the message: ‘Worship Allah and stay away from the Taaghoot (all false deities or every rebel of God). Then, there were some among them whom Allah guided, and there were others against whom deviation (from the right path) was established. So, travel on earth and see how was the fate of those who rejected (the prophets)’.” (Al-Nahl 16:36)

Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) preferred some of the Prophets and Messengers over others. The best of them are the "Messengers of strong will” who are Nooh, Ibraaheem, Moosaa, ‘Eesaa and Muhammad; and the best of the Messengers of strong will is Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam). For each Prophet was sent only to his own people, until Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) sent Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) to all of mankind. He is the last and the best of the Prophets and Messengers, as Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) says (interpretation of the meaning):

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا كَافَّةً لِلنَّاسِ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ [سبأ: 28]

"And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not.” (Sabaa 34:28)

The Prophets and Messengers were chosen by Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) to be an example to their nations. He taught them, guided them and honored them with the Message; He protected them from falling into sin and supported them with miracles. So they are the most perfect of humanity both physically and in their attitude, the best of them in knowledge, the most truthful in speech, the most exemplary in the life they lived. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) says of them (interpretation of the meaning):

وَجَعَلْنَاهُمْ أَئِمَّةً يَهْدُونَ بِأَمْرِنَا وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْهِمْ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَإِقَامَ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءَ الزَّكَاةِ وَكَانُوا لَنَا عَابِدِينَ [الأنبياء: 73]

“And We made them the Imams who guided (people) under Our command, and We inspired them to do good deeds and to establish Salaah and pay Zakaah, and Us alone they worshipped.” (Al-Anbiyaa 21:73)

Because the Prophets and Messengers reached such a high status of obedience and good character, Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has commanded us to take them as an example. Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) says (interpretation of the meaning):

أُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ فَبِهُدَاهُمُ اقْتَدِهْ [الأنعام: 90]

“Those are the people whom Allah has guided. So, it is their guidance that you should follow.” (Al-An’aam 6:90)

All of the characteristics of the Prophets and Messengers were combined in our Prophet Muhammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam), and Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) honored him by instilling in him the noblest characteristics. Therefore Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) stated that his example is to be followed in all situations (interpretation of the meaning):

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا [الأحزاب: 21]

“There is indeed a good model for you in the Messenger of Allah – for the one who has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah profusely.” (Al-Ahzaab 33:21)

Belief in all the Prophets and Messengers is one of the pillars of Islamic belief (‘Aqeedah), without which the faith of the Muslim cannot be complete, because they all preached the same message, which is belief in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa). Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) says (interpretation of the meaning):

قُولُوا آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ [البقرة: 136]

“Say (O Muslims!): ‘We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us, and in what has been revealed to Ibraaheem, Ismaa’eel, Ishaaq, Ya‘qoob and his children, and in what has been given to Moosaa and ‘Eesaa and what has been given to the prophets from their Lord: We make no difference between any of them, and to Him we submit ourselves’.” (Al-Baqarah 2:136)